KELSEYVILLE — In a battle of North Central League I North volleyball powers, the Kelseyville Knights put the home floor to good advantage in beating the Middletown Mustangs 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18 on Thursday night in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville completes the first half of its league schedule at 4-0. Middletown is now alone in second place at 2-1.
“They were long games,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said of the four-set match. “Middletown has two outstanding middle players.”
Kayla Wood has 21 kills, five blocks and two aces to lead the Mustangs. Kelsey Guzman added 14 kills and four blocks.
Kelseyville countered with a 13-kill, 14-dig night by Kaitlyn Goff. The Knights also received 10 kills from both Kendra Schwegerl and Ashley Mueller, and nine kills from Skyler Olson. Goff and Maille McCallister each had two blocks.
“We had a crowd, momentum and our gym,” McCallister said. “I”m sure our next match (in Middletown) is going to be real tough.”
“We struggled with our serve receive and passing,” Middletown coach Jennifer Breiner said. “Our girls knew it was a big match and let it get to them.”
Jessica Boylan had eight kills for Middletown.
“Nothing was given in this match,” McCallister said. “I just hope they keep the momentum going,” she added of her players.
In other volleyball action Thursday:
Clear Lake def. Upper Lake
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake Cardinals didn”t play their best match of the season or anything close to it, but they did beat the Upper Lake Cougars 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 in NCL I South action.
The win moves the Cardinals to 3-0 atop the South standings. They close out the first half of their league schedule Tuesday at home against St. Helena.
“It wasn”t the prettiest match, but it”ll do,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said. “We kind of cruised through this one, but we got the win.”
The Cardinals were down a starter — Kaila Sterbank missed the match with the flu — but her replacement, Apryl Comstock, came through with five kills.
“April came in and played very well,” Psalmonds said.
Jesse Sondag led the Cardinals with nine kills, Briana Butcher had four kills and 14 points, and Danielle Howard led the team with three blocks.
Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney summed up his team”s effort succinctly.
“We played badly and we got beat,” he said.
The Cougars (1-2) struggled with their passing and their serving — they had 14 service errors on the night.
“We need to regroup and figure out what we need to do,” Coatney said.
Hannah Johnson”s six kills led the Cougars. Rebecca Swaney was the only Upper Lake player who didn”t have a service error. She put all 16 of her serves into play, recorded 13 points, including two aces.
Willits def. Lower Lake
At Willits, the Lower Lake Trojans battled themselves as well as Willits, with the host Wolverines winning 26-24, 16-25, 25-18, 25-15.
“We just imploded from within,” Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy said.
Darlena White, playing on a sore knee that limits her mobility, still had a team-high seven aces. Renita Gilliam added six kills and five blocks, and Amber Daniels had five kills.
Girls” soccer
Middletown 1, Willits 0
At Willits, it wasn”t pretty, but the Middletown Mustangs scored on a Kelsey Welton goal with two minutes remaining to beat the Wolverines and improve to 4-0-1 in the NCL I North girls” soccer standings.
Welton started at keeper but Middletown coach Louise Owens moved to her offense once it became apparent that the Wolverines were content to play defense against the Mustangs, now 12-1-1 overall.
“They crowded the box and made it difficult for us,” Owens said. “We spent most of the game on their side of the field, so there was no point leaving her (Welton) back there (at keeper).”
Middletown had numerous scoring opportunities before Welton, moving from the far left side, smacked a shot in the top right corner of the goal.
“It was a very nice shot,” Owens said.
Middletown dominated Willits 9-0 on Sept. 30 in Middletown, the league opener for both teams.
“They were much improved from the last time we saw them,” Owens said.
St. Helena 4, Upper Lake 1
At St. Helena, Taryn Re”s goal, assisted by Yessica Ayala, spoiled St. Helena”s shutout in NCL I South action.
St. Helena led 2-0 after the first half and 4-0 before Re scored for Upper Lake (0-5).
“We had a few opportunities,” Upper Lake coach Ana Santana said.
Clear Lake 4, Lower Lake 1
At Lower Lake, Mayra Nava”s penalty kick in the first half pulled Lower Lake into a 1-1 tie, but the Clear Lake Cardinals came back to beat the Trojans in NCL I interlock action.
All the scoring took place in the first half as Clear Lake improved to 11-6-2.
“It was a well-matched, well-played game,” Lower Lake coach Daniel Wieman said. Wieman gave high marks to his keeper, Katreena Galindo, for keeping the Trojans in the game in the second half.
Boys” soccer
Clear Lake 2, Lower Lake 1
At Lower Lake, Daniel Gregorio”s penalty kick and Matt Stegman”s goal in the first half gave the Clear Lake Cardinals a 2-0 lead and they held on to beat the Lower Lake Trojans in NCL I interlock boys” soccer action.
Lower Lake scored on a penalty kick late in the first half for its only score.
“It was a pretty sloppy, uneventful second half,” Clear Lake coach Brian Figg said.
