Mustangs, Knights, Cardinals all bring home league victories
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MIDDLETOWN >> The Middletown Mustangs don’t mind putting in a little overtime.
Behind 21 kills from sophomore Emma Davis, the Mustangs notched their second straight five-set North Central League I South varsity volleyball win, this time with a 20-25, 25-21, 25-15,15-25, 15-13 victory over Sonoma Academy on Thursday night in Middletown.
Davis added 15 digs and an assist, but it was her play at the net that pushed the Mustangs across the finish line. Her 21st and final kill came on match point with the Mustangs leading 14-13 in the fifth set.
“It was a beautiful swing,” Middletown head coach Erika Galvan said. “She was hitting the ball hard all night.”
Jordyn Harbison finished with 39 digs, nine service points, two aces and one assist as the Mustangs improved to 2-0 in league play. They’ll meet the 2-0 Cloverdale Eagles on Tuesday in Cloverdale.
“These girls showed grit and toughness tonight,” Galvan said. “We had a player have some medical concerns early in the match that changed our lineup for the next three sets. I shuffled a few girls around and they jumped right into new roles and played great.”
Added Galvan, “We lost our rhythm in the fourth set but came back strong in the fifth. Once again, Jordyn Harbison kept the team together and in check throughout the night.”
Sonoma Academy won the junior varsity match 25-11, 25-18. Lilly Reyes finished with 12 digs, two kills and one block for the Mustangs, Janel Wilkinson added eight digs, two assists and two aces, and Carlee Williams had eight digs.
“We need to come out stronger in the beginning,” Galvan said. “It takes a few minutes to really get themselves going. They are coming together every day and growing as a team. They had some good rallies tonight but couldn’t pull out of the deficit.”
In other NCL I action Thursday:
Fort Bragg def. Upper Lake
At Upper Lake, with the host Cougars leading two sets to one, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves rallied to beat Upper Lake 25-15, 15-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10.
“Tough loss tonight,” Upper Lake head coach Fawn Rave said. “We struggled to cover tonight.”
Both teams are now 1-1 in the NCL I North standings.
“We had some real good hustle in the second and third sets. They had some great rallies; we just couldn’t pull through.”
Trailing 14-6 in the fifth and final set, Upper Lake tried to rally at the service line where Kenzie Foley served three straight aces.
“We just couldn’t finish with a win,” Rave said.
Alyssa John led the Cougars with 15 kills, 13 digs and six blocks while Rilee Sperber recorded 23 assists, six digs, two aces and one kill. Aubree Sperber added five kills, five aces and one block, and Marina Quiett had 10 digs, three kills and three aces. Other team leaders were Jordyn Parker with 12 kills, nine digs, five blocks and one ace, and Foley with seven digs, three aces, two kills and one block.
Upper Lake won the JV match 26-24, 25-23 behind three kills apiece from Jordin Hughes and Kyra Santos, seven service points from Addison Schaefers, and three aces from Kylee Solario.
The Cougars hit the road Tuesday to play Clear Lake in Lakeport. JV action starts at 5 p.m.
Kelseyville def. Lower Lake
At Lower Lake, Paelynn Beall’s nine kills and Madi Byrne’s 18 digs and 12 aces helped propel the Kelseyville Knights past the Lower Lake Trojans, 25-12, 25-9, 25-8, in NCL I North action.
Grace Peterson had 10 digs and Jordyn Wurm and Lilly Hamel four kills apiece for the Knights (2-0). Riley Hanson led the team with 20 assists. Kelseyville is 13-2 overall.
The Trojans are 0-2 in league play. Lower Lake statistics weren’t reported.
Kelseyville hosts Fort Bragg while Lower Lake is home against Willits on Tuesday when league action resumes. JV matches at both locations start at 5 p.m.
Clear Lake def. Willits
At Willits, Clear Lake evened its NCL I North record at 1-1 with a 25-18, 25-10, 25-20 victory over the Willits Wolverines.
Aniya Jauregui and Ashlynn Cruz led the way with 10 and nine kills, respectively. Cruz also had three aces and Jauregui two. Jazmine Wiebusch led the team with 17 assists. Other leaders were Avery Fiske and Gurleen Kaur with three aces apiece, Macie Snider with two kills, and Paisley Himenes with five digs and two aces.
Clear Lake won the JV match 25-16, 25-17.
The Cardinals host Upper Lake on Tuesday beginning with the JV match at 5 p.m.
