WILLITS — The Wolverines may be the team to beat in the upcoming North Central League I North volleyball race.
“They”re the hardest hitting team we”ve played against,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said on Tuesday after the Wolverines rallied past the Cardinals in a five-game NCL I interlock marathon, 25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-19, 15-12, at Willits High School.
“They”re the real deal,” Psalmonds said. “I wouldn”t be surprised if they won their league (the North).”
Willits overpowered Clear Lake up front in game one, but the Cardinals fought back to take the next two games. Willits rallied to win the final two games, both of which went back and forth.
“It was just a great match,” Psalmonds said. “It”s the best we”ve played so far.”
Jessica Asbury led the Cardinals with nine kills, five blocks and two aces.
“She had a great match,” Psalmonds said. “She”s coming into her own and is going to be a great player.”
Clear Lake”s setter, Katie Reynolds, had 21 assists, seven digs and five kills.
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Upper Lake def. South Fork
At Miranda, it wasn”t their best effort of the season, but the Upper Lake Cougars still put away the South Fork Cubs in the minimum three games, 25-20, 25-18, 26-24, in non-league action.
“It was a team effort,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said. “But we need to step it up when we play Kelseyville (on Thursday in Kelseyville).”
Emily Knispel and Christina Wagner each had five kills and three aces for the Cougars. Monique Derr added five kills, Olivia Carter had four kills and setter Brandy Clauch racked up 14 assists.
St. Helena def. Kelseyville
At St. Helena, the St. Helena Saints overpowered the Kelseyville Knights 25-11, 25-15, 25-6 in NCL I interlock action.
Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister had no comment on her team”s performance.
Girls” soccer
Middletown 4, St. Helena 2
At Middletown, after missing four games with an ankle injury, Natalie Diaz didn”t waste any time making her presence felt as she scored two quick goals in Middletown”s NCL I interlock victory over the St. Helena Saints.
Diaz scored in the fourth and seventh minutes to stake Middletown to a 2-0 lead. St. Helena came back three minutes later with a goal to cut the Mustangs” lead in half.
“Three goals in the first 10 minutes,” Middletown coach Louise Owens said of the wild start. “I thought, ?What”s going on?””
Things settled down after that and the next goal didn”t come until the 38th minute when Taylor Sloan scored to give the Mustangs a 3-1 advantage. Kiley Agapoff assisted on both Sloan”s goal and the second goal by Diaz.
St. Helena got as close as 3-2 in the second half. An unassisted goal by Brittany Cash gave the Mustangs (7-1) some breathing room.
“The defense did a phenomenal job,” Owens said. “There were no substitutions. I couldn”t mess any of that up.”
Diaz”s two goals came in limited playing time, according to Owens. “I put her in a little bit here and there,” Owens said.
Even so, her return to the field gave the Mustangs a big lift.
“She wanted to be there, she was very excited,” Owens said.
St. Vincent 12, Upper Lake 1
At Upper Lake, the St. Vincent Mustangs dominated the Upper Lake Cougars in the league opener for both teams. St. Vincent, the perennial NCL I South powerhouse, led 5-1 after the first half.
Yessica Ayala drove nearly the distance of the field to score Upper Lake”s lone goal in the first half.
Willits 2, Kelseyville 0
At Willits, the Willits Wolverines shut out the Kelseyville Knights in the NCL I North opener for both teams.
“I”m happy we played well, but I”m not happy we didn”t win,” Kelseyville coach Mark Andre said.
The Knights fell to 0-7 on the season.
“Sabrina Lyon had a very good game, lots of energy,” Andre said.
Boys” soccer
Willtis 2, Kelseyville 1
At Kelseyville, unable to generate much of an attack, the Kelseyville Knights fell to the Willits Wolverines in the NCL I North opener for both teams.
“We just struggled in the midfield,” Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said. “When you have no midfield, you have no game. Our passing wasn”t all there.”
Josh Espinoza scored in the second half for the Knights (0-1, 4-2-1).
Willits led 1-0 after the first half.
Cloverdale 3, Clear Lake 1
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake Cardinals fell to the Cloverdale Eagles in the NCL I South debut for both squads.
“Defensively we did a great job,” Clear Lake coach Chris Cortez said, citing the efforts of Michael Eaquinto and Nate Secrest. “In the first half we communicated much better and the passing was better.”
Cloverdale led 1-0 after the first half.
Clear Lake (0-1, 1-4) scored in the second half on a goal by Ivan Sanchez. Secrest had the assist.
