Middletown volleyball clinches third place with four-set win over Clear Lake
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MIDDLETOWN >> The Middletown Mustangs honored their seniors Thursday night while also beating the Clear Lake Cardinals 20-25, 25-11, 25-19, 25-16 in the North Central League I varsity volleyball finale for both teams at the Tallman Gym.
Middletown (10-4) clinched sole possession of third place in the league standings with its win and should be headed to the North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs next week as an at-large team. First-round play opens Wednesday, and the Division 4 field will be seeded Sunday when Middletown’s opponent and the location of that match are determined.
“It was our senior night tonight, so the girls started off a little slow,” Middletown head coach Erika Galvan said. “We finally got into the right groove and played how we know how.”
Two of Middletown’s seniors, Mia Hoogendoorn and Makayla Mace, turned in solid performances. Hoogendoorn finished with 26 digs, 15 kills, eight service points and four aces while Mace had 26 digs, 12 kills, eight service points and one ace. Sophomore setter Isa Barnes added to her single-season team record of assists with 37 more while also collecting seven service points.
Other Middletown team leaders were Carly Johnson with 12 kills and four blocks, and Taylor Thompson with three kills and two blocks.
“It was bittersweet tonight,” Galvan said of coaching her six seniors – Hoogendoorn, Mace, Jaylee Doris, Taylor Thompson and Beverly Fetters – for a final time in a league match. “I coached these girls as freshmen and got to be there with them as they stepped off the court for their senior year. They have all grown so much into amazing women and athletes.”
Galvan, who also doubles as junior varsity head coach, took control of the varsity team in late September after the resignation of then-head coach Norberto Quiroz. The Mustangs won eight of their final nine league matches under her leadership.
Middletown’s JV squad closed with a 25-14, 28-26 win behind eight service points, including six straight in the first set with four aces in a row, from Hannah Tribby. Bridget Lisenbee helped out with 12 assists, four service points and three kills, Chloe Pulido added five service points, Sammy Maccario had 30 digs, and Izzi Hoogendoorn finished with six kills.
“She played the court really smart,” Galvan said of Hoogendoorn. “She looked for holes and put the ball there. The girls worked well together and pulled off the win. It was a great season for the girls.”
Middletown’s JVs went 11-3 in league play. Only Kelseyville (13-1) had a better record.