Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 11:16am By The Leader Staff
West Hills College Lemoore's Courtney Anaya goes head to head with West Hills Coalinga's Isabella Galang in Wednesday's first-ever West Hills Coalinga vs. Lemoore volleyball match.
West Hills College Lemoore's Courtney Anaya goes head to head with West Hills Coalinga's Isabella Galang in Wednesday's first-ever West Hills Coalinga vs. Lemoore volleyball match.
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

West Hills folks were calling it the “The Battle of the Birds.” It was the Falcons versus the Golden Eagles, and in the district’s first-ever volleyball matchup between the two schools, the Falcons prevailed. West Hills College Coalinga Falcons, playing their first-ever Central Valley Conference match in West Hills College Lemoore’s Golden Eagle Arena, beat their cross-valley rivals in three rather close sets, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23.

The Lady Golden Eagles are playing their first season ever and while certainly struggling, have managed to put on a good show for local volleyball fans. The Eagles are 1-3 overall and 0-3 in league with losses to Porterville, Merced, and of course West Hills Coalinga Wednesday night.

The Eagles will get another shot at the Falcons when they make the short jump to Coalinga for a match on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.

“Both athletic departments have been looking forward to this historic event since the schedule was released by the Central Valley Conference last spring,” said Associate Dean of Athletics Eric Mendoza before Wednesday’s match.  “It’s exciting to be part of a new competitive rivalry that brings out the best in school spirit and the student-athlete experience at each campus. Our Falcon team is expecting a tough match at the Golden Eagle Arena, so we will need to bring our best effort.”

The Golden Eagles hit the road this week with a Friday match at Taft and then next Wednesday at College of the Sequoias. The Eagles return home for a Friday, Sept. 28 match against Cerro Coso, at 5 p.m.