Lower Lake, Clear Lake squads drop home matches in NCL I action
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UPPER LAKE >> Bella Patti had nine digs and four kills without a hitting error Tuesday night as the Kelseyville Knights dominated the Upper Lake Cougars 25-9, 25-9, 25-19 in a North Central League I varsity volleyball match at Upper Lake.
“Bella Patti played a really solid match both offensively and defensively,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said. “No attack errors, strong serving and best serve receive (play) of the night.”
Riley Hanson, hitting at a fantastic .550 average, led the Knights (11-0) with 12 kills while Madison Byrne and Mati Mateer added four kills apiece. Maddy Borghesani had a team-best 23 assists and six aces, and AJ Wurm finished with nine digs.
The Knights, defending league champions, need to win two of their remaining three league matches to guarantee themselves no worse than a share of the league title. If one of those wins is next Tuesday in Cloverdale, they will clinch a second straight outright league championship.
“The first two sets had some great rallies, but most ended with us making mental errors,” Upper Lake head coach Dani Paige Gudmundson said. “We got caught watching the game instead of playing it, and against a team like Kelseyville you can’t afford those mistakes.”
Added Gudmundson, “In the third set, we finally decided to lock in and put up a fight. We had several strong rallies and played with much more intensity, but it just wasn’t enough to close it out.”
Aimee Schaefer led the Cougars (4-7) with 10 kills and three blocks. Alyssa John added seven service points, seven digs, three blocks and two kills. Ava Witter had 17 digs.
In junior varsity action, Kelseyville beat Upper Lake 25-21, 25-16 to move to within a win of clinching no worse than a share of the league title. The defending league champions improved to 11-0 and can lock up another undisputed title by winning two of their three remaining league matches.
“Girls were a little slow defensively in the first set and then picked up their game in the second,” McCallister said.
Bella Farfan Boyes had 12 digs and four aces for Kelseyville, Brooklyn Young added 12 assists, Paelynn Beall led the team with eight kills, and Aubree Sperber had seven kills. Other team leaders were Grace Peterson with 25 digs, and Malillany Rico with nine assists.
Upper Lake (6-5) entered play minus two players, which only made the Cougars’ job that much tougher against an undefeated Kelseyville squad.
“Knowing Kelseyville is a team you want to come in giving your all, we just wanted to have fun playing some volleyball, and that’s just what my girls did,” Upper Lake head coach Fawn Rave said. “I’m so proud of them.”
Forced to shuffle the lineup because of the two missing players, the Cougars moved Emily Franco to the libero position and Kenzie Foley to setter. Both came through in a big way, according to Rave, who also was pleased with the play up front of Lizzie Fernandez.
“She did great last night,” Rave said.
“The second set didn’t start off as strong as our first, and Kelseyville ran with the lead, but the girls never gave up and fought back until the end.”
Jordyn Parker finished with nine digs, five kills and two blocks for Upper Lake. Foley added 18 digs and four assists, Fernandez had two kills and one block, and Franco had 12 digs.
Kelseyville’s teams return home Thursday for their final home match of the regular season (senior night), that against Clear Lake. Upper Lake’s teams are on the road at Lower Lake.
Fort Bragg def. Middletown
At Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves (8-3) remained on the fringes of the league race with a 25-16, 25-16, 25-21 win over the Middletown Mustangs (5-6).
“Fort Bragg had great defense,” Middletown head coach Erika Galvan said. “They were able to pick up pretty much everything.”
Brenna Goodloe led the Mustangs with seven kills and also had seven digs. Hailey Williams added six kills, and Harley Holley contributed six kills, four service points and three aces. Other Middletown leaders were Trinity Galvan with 20 digs, six assists, two kills and one ace, Jordyn Harbison with 13 digs, four service points and two aces, and Carly Johnson with four kills, 11 digs and one ace.
In the JV match, Middletown defeated Fort Bragg 25-20, 25-11 to improve to 9-2 in league play.
Chloe Pulido had 14 service points on the night, including a run of 10 straight during the second set. Ten of those service points came on aces.
“After a first set riddled with defensive and offensive errors, the Middletown JVs were dominant in the second set led by Chloe Pulido’s straight stretch of serves,” Middletown head coach Vanessa Davis said. “She was unstoppable, serving an ace almost every contact.”
Middle blocker Grace Williams added three kills, two digs, four service points and two aces while setter Hannah Tribby had eight assists, five service points, four aces and two digs.
Middletown’s teams remain on the road Thursday to play St. Helena. The JVs can secure no worse than a second-place finish with a win.
St. Helena def. Lower Lake
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans (0-11) won the first set, but the St. Helena Saints (4-7) battled back for a 22-25, 25-12, 25-22, 25-23 victory.
“Although we didn’t get the final outcome we wanted, I am incredibly proud of how our girls played tonight,” Lower Lake head coach Vikki Poni said. “They showed heart, hustle and resilience throughout the match.”
Added Poni, “We’re continuing to work hard on communication and movement, and I’m already seeing so much improvement. This is a team that keeps growing every game, and tonight was another step forward.”
Jamiya Lee-Ayers led the Trojans with six kills and “some great serving,” according to Poni. Leanna Ortego added four kills and five aces, Brooke Watson finished with four kills, Khaya Chaney had two kills and a block, and Leticia Sorrells served up four aces. She also had a kill.
“My libero (Heidi Ortega) played some great defense,” Poni said.
In the JV match, St. Helena beat Lower Lake 25-16, 22-25, 15-9, denying the Trojans (0-11) their first league win. The Saints improved to 8-3.
Lower Lake’s teams host Upper Lake on Thursday.
Cloverdale def. Clear Lake
At Lakeport, the Cloverdale Eagles (10-1) beat the Clear Lake Cardinals (2-9) in straight sets, 25-11, 25-18, 25-19.
No other details were reported.
Cloverdale also won the JV match, 25-23, 25-18.
Clear Lake’s teams travel to Kelseyville on Thursday.
