Gridley senior middle hitter Yalany Romo (2) high-fives senior opposite hitter Avery Mendenhall (24) after a point on Oct. 14 in the Bulldogs' win over Oroville. Photo by Steven Bryla

GRIDLEY, CA (YSBC) - The Gridley Bulldogs girls volleyball team defeated the Oroville Tigers in straight sets (25-14, 25-8,25-20) on Oct. 14.

Gridley secured a second-place finish in Westside League play with the victory over Oroville on Tuesday as they are three games ahead of Corning, who has four league losses currently.

The opening set was primarily back-and-forth until the Bulldogs built a margin of seven points and later took the set by double-digits.

Gridley senior setter Isabel Santillan (4) sets a pass in the Bulldogs' sweep against Oroville on Oct. 14. Photo by Steven Bryla

Gridley will be playing the remainder of their season with a teammate down due to injury as the roster has shrunk to eight players. Bulldogs head coach Elizabeth Ayon expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that it’s going to be a challenge moving forward down a player, but has full confidence in her team of accomplishing their season’s goal.

Gridley has had great senior leadership over the years and that tradition continues as 2026 setter Isabel Santillan told YSBC that the Bulldogs will need to continue having the trust in one another on the court like they have throughout the season.

Santillan recorded her 2000th career assist on Oct. 8 in a sweep against Enterprise. Santillan is the only Gridley volleyball player in school history to reach the milestone.

Santillan said the milestone proved her dedication for the sport and the love she has for it, but she couldn’t have accomplished it without her girls. Santillan had 34 assists in the win against the Tigers.

Gridley senior opposite hitter Avery Mendenhall (24) tips the ball over the net on Oct. 14 in the Bulldogs' victory against Oroville. Photo by Steven Bryla

Gridley senior opposite hitter Avery Mendenhall led the Bulldogs with 10 kills, sophomore middle hitter Kambelle Tolman had nine kills and three blocks and sophomore outside hitter Abby Boyan had 12 digs in the win.

Gridley controlled the second set with great energy and both squads competed hard in the final set as it was within a few points until the Bulldogs pulled away for the sweep.

Santillan expressed to YSBC that for the remaining games in league play, she wants her and her teammates to continue being aggressive on the court and giving it their all on a nightly basis.

Gridley finished up league play this week with Las Plumas and Live Oak as playoffs are scheduled to begin next week.

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Gridley sophomore middle hitter Kambelle Tolman (15) blocks an Oroville kill attempt on Oct. 14 in the Bulldogs' sweep against the Tigers. Photo by Steven Bryla