Middletown drops South volleyball battle to Cloverdale
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KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights took over sole possession of first place in the North Central League I North varsity volleyball standings Tuesday night with a 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 win over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves at Kelseyville.
Kelseyville (3-0 league, 14-2 overall) handed Fort Bragg (2-1) its first league loss behind 10 kills from Olivia Bushey, nine kills and 19 digs from Madi Byrne, 21 digs and four aces from Cassidy Hanson, and 15 assists apiece from Riley Hanson and Brooklyn Young.
“The girls are playing really well together,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said. “Fort Bragg brought a scrappy team over to play. Our girls handled their attacks fairly consistently. Our setters are distributing the ball well.”
Kelseyville’s junior varsity also improved to 3-0 in league play with a 25-9, 25-10 win.
Nya Martinez led the Knights with six kills and five aces, Kaia Bohan added five kills, and Mali Rico had 10 assists.
The Knights host Willits on Thursday. JV action begins at 5 p.m.
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Cloverdale def. Middletown
At Cloverdale, in a NCL I South battle for first place, the Cloverdale Eagles beat the Middletown Mustangs 25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 32-30.
Middletown (2-1) trailed 24-19 in the fourth set, fighting off five straight match points to get back even at 24-24. The game see-sawed back and forth from there as the Mustangs fought hard to force a fifth and deciding set. Cloverdale (3-0) eventually won the marathon fourth set.
The match was halted with Cloverdale leading 17-14 in the third set when Trinity Galvan, daughter of Middletown head coach Erika Galvan, took a hard shot in the head on a kill by Cloverdale’s Ronni Hatcher. The blow knocked Galvan to the floor, and she collapsed again when taken to the Middletown bench. Medics were called to the gym and the sophomore was transported to the hospital.
According to Erika Galvan, who also left the gym at that point, her daughter was not seriously hurt and was able to return home where she is sore but resting comfortably. There was no concussion.
Former varsity coach Vanessa Davis took over on the Middletown bench at that point and coached the Mustangs the rest of the way.
Individual stats were not available.
Cloverdale won the JV match 25-22, 25-7.
Lilly Reyes led the Mustangs with five kills and three assists, Bella Loyola had three assists and two aces, and Janel Wilkinson finished with four assists.
Middletown hosts Credo on Thursday with JV action beginning at 5 p.m.
Upper Lake def. Clear Lake
At Lakeport, in NCL I North play, Upper Lake beat Clear Lake 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 to improve to 2-1 in the league standings.
“We had to make some last-minute adjustments and move some people around later in practice (Monday night) when Aubree Sperber sustained an ankle injury during the last 20 minutes of practice,” Upper Lake head coach Fawn Rave said. “Alyssa John stepped into the setting position alongside of Rilee Sperber tonight and it seemed to help us out defensively. Alyssa setting allowed us to get some extra coverage and quickness in the back row.”
John turned in another strong overall effort with 13 kills, seven assists, five digs, four aces and three blocks while Rilee Sperber had 14 assists, two digs and one kill. Also coming up big for the Cougars were Marina Quiett with six kills, six digs and two aces, and Jordyn Parker with five digs, two kills and two blocks.
“Alyssa did a great job setting,” Rave said. “We still have to work on our quickness. We seemed to become stuck in the third set, and it took us a minute to get it together. Overall, everyone touched the court and was able to work together to get the win tonight. We hope to have Aubree back Thursday for our homecoming game.”
“We made a lot of unforced errors, which impacted the game,” Clear Lake head coach Izzy Short said.
Ashlynn Cruz and Aniya Jauregui powered the Cardinals. Cruz recorded eight kills and four aces while Jauregui finished with seven kills. Other leaders were Paisely Himenes with six digs and three ace, and Jazmine Wiebusch with 22 assists.
Upper Lake won the JV match as well, 25-17, 25-19.
For Upper Lake, Jordin Hughes logged four kills, Kylee Solorio had 10 service points, including three aces, and Addison Schaefers had eight points and two aces. Sabrina Wenning added a kill.
“I told my girls to have confidence, this is your game,” Upper Lake head coach Raelene Cromwell said. “They all stayed calm and played their game. I’m very proud of how these ladies play and work together.”
Upper Lake is 3-0 in league play.
Clear Lake statistics were not reported.
Upper Lake hosts Lower Lake on Thursday while Clear Lake travels to Fort Bragg. Action at both locations begins at 5 p.m.
Lower Lake def. Willits
At Lower Lake, Lower Lake won its first league match in almost three years by sweeping the Willits Wolverines 25-19, 25-12, 25-22. It was the team’s first NCL I victory since Oct. 3, 2023, also against the Willits Wolverines.
No other information was reported. Lower Lake is 1-2 in the NCL I North standings.
JV results weren’t reported.
Lower Lake travels to Upper Lake on Thursday.
