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ORANGE – Esperanza’s talent proved to be too much for an El Modena girls volleyball team still looking for its first win.

Although El Modena showed heart by rallying in the third game, Esperanza went on to sweep the Vanguards, 25-14, 25-9, 25-21, Tuesday night at El Modena High.

“We have more talent than they do,” said Esperanza coach Isaac Owens. “We have kids who have played a lot of volleyball, and talent is typically going to win out.”

Esperanza (20-5) built up significant leads in the first two games, as junior Avery Stowell led the team in hits and kills with a .600 hitting percentage for the night.

“We have a really good team, a lot of talent, and we’ve been working hard in the gym and we’re really working for it, said Stowell.

In the third game, the Aztecs weren’t as sharp as they were early in the contest, and the Vanguards (0-5) took advantage by shutting down Esperanza’s offense.

El Modena coach Lindsay Laakso gave credit for the team’s strong finish to senior Mariah Gonzalez and Anne Mast.

“I think collectively as a team, they tried to fight, which was nice to see,” Laakso said, “and when Mariah and Anne get on, they get the whole team going.”

El Modena played the third game with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

“We all felt like we needed to cheer more, to bring each other up, and with each point, we all just erupted and it helped a lot, “ said senior Mariah Gonzalez.

“We showed heart in the end, and we battled back against a very good team,” said Laakso.

El Modena plays Foothill on Thursday at Foothill. Esperanza plays its rival, Yorba Linda, on Thursday at Esperanza High.