SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Hanford High School's girls volleyball team finished fifth overall in the San Luis Obispo Invitational Saturday. The Bullpups went 3-1-1 in pool play, finishing second, defeating Coast Union (Cambria) 25-13, 25-23, and Villa Park 25-22, 27-26, and splitting with Atascadero 25-17, 17-25.

Hanford then defeated Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 25-22 to advance to the championship bracket, losing in the quarterfinals to Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo) 25-17.

"It was a good experience," said coach Dwayne Wibeto. "We showed we can play at a high level, but we need to be more consistent."

One of the day's highlights was a come-from-behind effort in the second game against Villa Park, riding the efforts of Courtney Rose and Erica Mazon to recover from a 23-14 deficit for the win.

For the tournament, Cecilia Aragaz had 26 kills, 17 digs and five aces; Erin Emmett had 21 kills; Tess Gilkey 10 kills, seven blocks and five aces; Laura Correa eight kills and five aces; Mazon seven kills and seven blocks; Shelby Bennett 42 assists; Taryn Samaya 23 assists and eight digs and Rose had 15 digs.

The Bullpups are on the road again next weekend, for the Huntington Beach tournament.

(Sept. 15, 2008)