LAKEPORT — Talk about your battles of endurance. The Clear Lake and St. Helena varsity volleyball teams played a five-set marathon on Tuesday night in Lakeport and the North Central League I South opener for both teams eventually went to the visiting Saints, who survived for a 25-15, 31-33, 25-22, 25-27, 15-4 victory.
“We just ran out out of energy … not physical energy but emotional energy,” Clear Lake coach David Laven said of a match pitting the two teams expected to battle for the South title this season. “Everyone out there on both teams were blocking, digging, diving for balls … it was amazing.”
Shana Hiatt pounded out 16 kills and Savannah Harrison had 11 to lead the Cardinals, who simply refused to give up in the ultra-long second set, the longest of the match.
“It just went on forever,” Laven said.
In fact, Laven said if rally scoring hadn”t been used in the match, the two teams would probably still be playing.
“It just went on and on, like some of our matches with Kelseyville a few years ago,” Laven said. “We left everything out there. We didn”t hold a thing back. Even though we lost, I can”t fault them. I”m proud of how hard they played.
“They never gave up,” Laven added.
Clear Lake had only eight service errors in the match.
Kirsten Wascom had four kills for the Cardinals.
Clear Lake plays an NCL I interlock match on Thursday in Lower Lake. Junior varsity action starts at 5 p.m.
