MIDDLETOWN — With a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the North Central League I North volleyball standings, the Middletown Mustangs appeared to be well on their way Thursday night against the Kelseyville Knights.
But in a battle of first-year coaches, Kelseyville”s Deanna Goff watched Kelseyville rally for a 16-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-15, 15-11 victory on Middletown”s home floor. The win keeps the Knights (4-0) perfect in the NCL I North standings, while Middletown (2-1) falls into a second-place tie with Lower Lake (2-1).
“They did really well the first two games,” Middletown coach Jennifer Breiner said. “But in the last three games, we weren”t serving the ball and we weren”t hitting it. It was a rough couple of games.”
Goff credited the win to libero Sarah Johnson”s serving from the third game on.
“She started it (the comeback),” Goff said. “She would serve four or five (points) in a row.”
Johnson finished with 11 points, including seven aces, and nine digs.
Another Kelseyville standout was Skyler Olsen, who stands only 5-foot-6, but held her own in the front row.
“She did great,” Goff said. “She gets up there and really lets it go.”
On match point, an Olsen kill sealed the Knights” win. She finished with four kills and nine points.
Kayla Wood had 16 kills and four aces to power Middletown and Jessica Boyland had 11 kills and three aces.
