Cardinals, Trojans drop home matches in North Central League I action
Lake County Sports on Facebook
UPPER LAKE >> Nyejzniya Krohn continues to blast away up front for the Kelseyville High School varsity volleyball team, a 25-20, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23 winner over the Upper Lake Cougars on Thursday night at Upper Lake High School.
Krohn, a senior, recorded six kills on 12 arm swings with only one error as the Knights improved to 4-0 in the North Central League I standings. Upper Lake slipped to 0-5.
Krohn also had a team-best four blocks.
“While not our best effort, the girls continue to support each other through the highs and lows of a match,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said.
Olivia Hommer led the team with 10 digs and Cali Schnabl had nine while Riley Hanson and Matisyn Mateer each had three aces. Hanson also picked up nine assists.
While the Cougars are still searching for that elusive first league win, they haven’t gone quietly in any of their matches, pushing opponents to five sets three times and four sets twice.
“Upper Lake made some great plays and demonstrated tough defense,” McCallister said.
Angelina Rivera led the Cougars with nine kills and also had seven blocks while Aimee Schaefers finished with seven kills and a team-high 11 blocks. Alyssa John added six kills, two blocks and a team-best seven aces.
“The game at Upper Lake tonight was a tough battle and although Kelseyville won in four, our team showed great effort and determination,” Upper Lake head coach Dani Paige Gudmundson said. “Each set was a challenge, especially in the first 10 points of each set.”
Added Gudmundson, “Overall, it was an intense and enjoyable game, and I’m proud of the team’s performance. I’m looking forward to our upcoming matches as we continue to work on our discipline, consistency and teamwork in practice.”
Kelseyville’s junior varsity squad also improved to 4-0 in league play with a 25-19, 25-13 win. Bella Farfan-Boyles filled in as the Knights’ second setter with Grace Hobbs out with a sprained ankle and was a major contributing factor to the win, according to McCallister.
“She did a wonderful job distributing the ball,” McCallister said.
Farfan-Boyles also had four aces as did Megan Rogers. Olivia Bushey led the team with five kills and Aubrey Sperber had three kills.
Kelseyville’s teams are home Tuesday to play Clear Lake. Upper Lake’s teams travel to Lower Lake. JV action at both locations begins at 5 p.m.
In other league action Tuesday:
Cloverdale def. Clear Lake
At Lakeport, the Cloverdale Eagles improved to 4-1 in league play with a 25-18, 25-21, 25-19 victory over the Clear Lake Cardinals, who dropped to 2-2.
“Atiana Patino had 13 great receives,” Clear Lake head coach Izzy Short said. “The girls are aware of what they need to work on and are motivated for the upcoming games.”
Patino led the team with nine digs and Kaylah Billig had a team-best nine kills.
Clear Lake did win the JV match even though the Cardinals were just one point away from losing the third set. Trailing 14-5, Kiara Hopkins stepped to the service line and served 10 straight points to put Clear Lake up 15-14. She served into the net on match point, tying the score at 15-all, but the Cardinals rallied to win the final two points, match point coming on a serve by Aliyeah Valadez.
During Hopkins’ run from the service line, Cloverdale took two timeouts in an attempt to stem the Cardinals’ comeback momentum.
Hopkins finished the match with five aces.
Other Clear Lake leaders were Ashlynn Cruz with six aces and six kills, and Jazmine Wiebusch with four aces.
“The Cardinals had a slow start but didn’t give up and fought hard,” Short said.
Clear Lake is 3-1 in league play.
The Cardinals are on the road Tuesday to play Kelseyville. JV action begins at 5 p.m.
St. Helena def. Lower Lake
At Lower Lake, St. Helena squared its league record at 2-2 with a 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 win over the Lower Lake Trojans, now 0-4 in the NCL I standings.
“Getting so close and yet so far,” Lower Lake head coach Shannon Tubbs said of the Trojans’ pursuit of a first league win. “Girls’ play keeps improving though, so that’s always a plus. Tonight the girls played the best sets of their season to date.”
Highlights for the Trojans were five aces by Izabela Hernandez, five kills and eight digs from Leanna Ortega, five kills and seven service points from Brooke Benson, and eight digs from Brooklynn Tubbs.
St. Helena won the JV match in three sets (scores not reported).
Lower Lake’s teams are home Tuesday to play Upper Lake. JV action starts at 5 p.m.
Middletown vs. Fort Bragg
Middletown def. Fort Bragg
At Fort Bragg, Middletown handed defending NCL I champion its first league loss, 25-8, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, dropping the Timberwolves to 3-1 in the league standings.
Makayla Mace led the Mustangs with 14 kills and also had four aces. Right behind her was Mia Hoogendoorn with 10 kills and a team-best six aces, Carly Johnson with six kills and a team-high nine blocks, and Isa Barnes with 35 assists.
“We needed to do well against good competition,” Middletown head coach Norberto Quiroz said of beating the defending league champions. “The team met the challenge. They did well. New coach, new system, new teammates … lots of change. The team is coming along; great bunch, too.”
Middletown squared its league record at 2-2.
Middletown won the JV match 25-13, 25-18 behind five aces, eight assists and 11 digs from Bridget Lisenbee and five kills and one block from Brenna Goodloe.
“We worked on passing a lot this week, and that made the difference for us tonight,” Middletown head coach Erika Galvan said. “The Mustangs played hard tonight and stayed focused throughout the sets.”
Middletown is 3-1 in league play.
