LAKEPORT — In a battle of two teams who stress defense above all else, the Clear Lake Cardinals outlasted Anderson Valley for an 18-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-20, 15-13 non-league varsity volleyball victory on Thursday in Lakeport.
The marathon match lasted nearly two and a half hours. Clear Lake spent nearly the entire evening coming from behind and had to overcome an 11-5 deficit in the fifth and deciding game.
The play of Heather White and Briana Campbell off the Cardinal bench in the fourth and fifth games and the hitting of Jessica Asbury all night — she had 19 kills on 32 arm swings — were the difference, according to Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds.
“Both of them (White and Campbell) played very well in the last two games,” Psalmonds said. “Campbell did a great job in the middle and White picked up a lot of balls.”
Asbury accounted for nearly all of the Cardinals” offense in game two and her hitting up front factored heavily into the outcome of game five, according to Psalmonds.
“She”s hitting the ball very well,” Psalmonds said.
Vanessa Tullos also had nine kills for the Cardinals.
Healdsburg def. M”town
At Healdsburg, the Healdsburg Greyhounds spoiled Middletown”s season debut, winning 26-24, 25-6, 21-25, 26-24 in non-league action.
“I was really happy for the first time out,” Middletown coach Suzanne Riccio said of the Mustangs” first match. “We have to tighten up some things, but we were hitting the ball much better than I thought we would.
“We were going up against a team of good hitters, so I”m really impressed with how we played,” Riccio added.
Angela Gattoni led the way for Middletown with 14 kills, three blocks and three aces. Laura Hart added seven kills.
Middletown did win the junior varsity match 25-14, 21-25, 15-12.
In other action Thursday:
South Fork at Upper Lake
A varsity-only match between the South Fork Cubs and Upper Lake Cougars never took place because the Cubs were no-shows at the Upper Lake gym.
“No word from them,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said of what would have been his team”s season opener. “We tried to call them but there was no answer.”
The officials finally called the match.
“The girls were ready to go, they were excited,” Coatney said.
