Kelseyville improves to 4-0 with three-set home victory over Upper Lake
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MIDDLETOWN>> The Middletown Mustangs and Fort Bragg Timberwolves went the distance in their North Central League I varsity volleyball match Thursday in Middletown, Fort Bragg outlasting Middletown for a 20-25, 18-25, 25-13, 25-22, 22-20 victory.
Middletown (1-3) had an opportunity to hand Fort Bragg (4-0) its first league loss after taking the first two sets from the Timberwolves, who were able to extricate themselves from the 2-0 hole and win the best-of-five marathon match.
“We battled it out tonight,” Middletown head coach Erika Galvan said. “I’m proud of how hard these girls worked all night. We came out strong but let up in that third set. That was what Fort Bragg needed to change their energy.”
Carly Johnson had a big night for the Mustangs with 14 kills, 13 service points, 11 digs, four aces and a block. Galvan received contributions from all of her players before it was over, including Bridget Lisenbee, who had 19 digs, 14 service points, six aces and eight assists, and Harley Holley with 13 digs, five kills and three aces.
“We fought with them the rest of the night,” Galvan said. “A few girls have been battling illnesses this past week, and we were running out of steam a little bit toward the end. The positive energy from Brenna Goodloe (four kills, two blocks) helped keep their heads up. She is one of our biggest cheerleaders.”
Other Middletown leaders were Izzi Hoogendoorn with seven kills, Jordyn Harbison with 30 digs and three aces, Trinity Galvan with 22 digs, 24 assists, three kills and an ace, Sami Maccario with 13 digs and one ace, and Hailey Williams with seven digs and two kills.
Middletown is entered in the CIVT Tournament Saturday in Sacramento. The Mustangs resume league play Tuesday at home against St. Helena. Junior varsity action begins at 5 p.m.
Middletown beat Fort Bragg in the JV match 25-14, 25-16, using a strong night at the service line to prevail in straight sets.
Lilly Reyes led the team with 16 service points, including five aces, and Emma Davis had five service points, all of them aces, to go along with eight kills.
Up front, Jolene Holley finished with seven kills. Setter Hannah Tribby had 16 assists.
“The Middletown JVs went on a serving streak again tonight, this time led by Lilly Reyes,” Middletown head coach Vanessa Davis said. “Lilly served for nine points in the first set and seven straight points in the second set. Her serves were paired with a dominant front-row attack led by Jolene Holley and Emma Davis.”
Added Davis, “Hannah Tribby set them both up in a beautiful series of attacks.”
The Middletown JVs, now 3-1 in league play, are entered in the Bay Area Classic on Saturday in Menlo Park. They return home Tuesday for a league match against St. Helena at 5 p.m.
In other NCL I action Thursday:
Kelseyville def. Upper Lake
At Kelseyville, Mati Mateer serves 10 aces to go along with five kills in Kelseyville’s 25-13, 25-7, 25-15 win over the Upper Lake Cougars.
“The team played comfortably together,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said a the Knights (4-0) kept pace with Cloverdale and Fort Bragg atop the league standings. “We really worked at reducing hitting and serving errors. Upper Lake worked hard. We had one great rally (more than 15 times over the net). Both teams would not let the ball drop.”
Kelseyville libero AJ Wurm recorded 21 digs while setter Maddy Borghesani had 16 assists. Bella Patti added seven digs and Riley Hanson contributed seven kills and 10 assists.
“The Upper Lake Lady Cougars faced a tough challenge against Kelseyville tonight,” Upper Lake head coach Dani Paige Gudmundson said as the Cougars dropped to 0-4 in the league standings. “Despite it being our fourth straight loss and missing one of our key players due to injury, the team showed resilience and fight, even bringing up two freshmen to help fill the gap. There were several strong rallies throughout the match, though many unfortunately slipped away from us.”
Aimee Schaefers had five kills, six blocks and 14 digs to power Upper Lake.
“She hustled all over the court,” Gudmundson said.
Abby Suzor anchored the net for the Cougars with six blocks and one kill.
“Kiri Casperson provided steady defense with 14 digs,” Gudmundson said. “Freshman Jordyn Parker made an impressive contribution with three kills, two blocks and seven digs in her varsity debut.”
Added Gudmundson, “Though the outcome wasn’t in our favor, the girls continue to grow and battle each match. We’ll keep building on the positives as we prepare for the next one.”
Kelseyville won the JV match 25-12, 25-18 to improve to 4-0 in league play.
Upper Lake (2-2) was minus three players and suited up only seven, which made things even more difficult for the Cougars against the first-place Knights.
“Went into the game telling the girls to just do their best and have fun,” Upper Lake head coach Fawn Rave said. “Being without the three girls, all the girls had to adjust to some new positions, and they all stepped up and worked together. We made some adjustments in the second set, and they did good keeping a little closer to Kelseyville but just couldn’t pull ahead.”
Kylee Solorio led the Cougars with seven service points, seven digs, three aces and three assists. Jordyn Parker added three blocks, two kills and two aces, Lizzie Fernandez had two kills, one block and two digs, and Addi Vipond added seven digs.
Kelseyville statistics were not available.
Kelseyville’s teams play Clear Lake in Lakeport on Tuesday while Upper Lake hosts Lower Lake. JV action at both locations begins at 5 p.m.
Cloverdale def. Clear Lake
At Cloverdale, Cloverdale handed the Clear Lake Cardinals a straight-set loss, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14, to improve to 4-0 in league play.
Clear Lake statistics were not available. The Cardinals (1-3) host undefeated Kelseyville (4-0) on Tuesday while Cloverdale is home against Fort Bragg in a battle of 4-0 teams.
Cloverdale won the JV match 25-22, 25-13.
Clear Lake statistics were not available.
St. Helena def. Lower Lake
At St. Helena, the St. Helena Saints squared their league record at 2-2 with a 25-14, 25-11, 25-14 win over the Lower Lake Trojans (0-4).
Lower Lake statistics were not available.
St. Helena also won the JV match (scores not reported).
The Trojans are back on the road Tuesday to play Upper Lake.
