UPPER LAKE — Jessica Asbury served Clear Lake back into the match in game five and the Cardinals held on to beat the Upper Lake Cougars 25-20, 25-14, 17-25, 18-25, 15-13 in a marathon North Central League I South varsity volleyball match on Thursday in Upper Lake.
Upper Lake (2-4) held a 9-2 lead in the decisive fifth game before Asbury stepped to the service line and reeled off eight straight points. Coree Alexander served match point as the Cardinals improved to 3-4 in the South standings.
Katherine Edmonds had 12 kills and six blocks for Upper Lake, Olivia Carter added nine kills and two blocks, and Emily Knispel had three kills and only one service error in 20 serves.
“The girls played a good game,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said. “Both teams played well.”
In other volleyball action Thursday:
Willits def. Lower Lake
At Willits, with the opportunity to pull into a first-place tie with Willits atop the NCL I North standings, the Lower Lake Trojans fell short, falling 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 to the Wolverines.
“It”s their homecoming so the varsity played first,” Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy said. “I was hoping it would be a distraction but instead it fired them up.”
While Amber Daniels led the Trojans (4-2) with nine kills and three aces, Lower Lake”s serve receive game had another tough night.
“It reared its ugly head again,” Udy said.
Kelsie Shoffeitt had six kills and two blocks for the Trojans and Shadae White added six kills and three aces.
Willits (6-0) clinched a tie for the North championship.
Kelseyville def. Middletown
At Kelseyville, Kelseyville turned back the Middletown Mustangs 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 15-25, 15-13 in NCL I North action.
“It was a great match, the crowd was into it,” Middletown coach Suzanne Riccio said. “We just made a few too many errors.”
Angela Gattoni led Middletown (0-6) with 12 kills and two blocks. Laura Hart added five aces.
Jennifer Green”s 14 kills and three blocks paced Kelseyville (3-4), Mandy Spitzer contributed five kills, Casey Graham had six aces and Kyra Rudnick nine digs.
“They worked hard and really impressed me,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said of the Mustangs.
Boys” soccer
Fort Bragg 4, Kelseyville 1
At Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves made the most of their homefield advantage to beat the Kelseyville Knights in the NCL I North finale for both teams.
“Wind, rain, freezing cold,” Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said of the less-than-ideal weather conditions on the Mendocino Coast. “This is the worst weather I”ve played in the whole time I”ve been coaching.”
Fort Bragg led 2-0 after one half. Oscar Martinez cut that lead to 2-1 early in the second half with an assist from Wenceslao Rojas.
“It stayed that way for a long time,” Ledesma said of the 2-1 score.
Fort Bragg tacked on two more goals later in the half largely because Kelseyville defenders couldn”t stay upright on the wet turf.
“Two lucky goals,” Ledesma said.
Girls” soccer
Fort Bragg 6, Kelseyville 1
At Kelseyville, Amanda Santana scored in the second half, Kelseyville”s lone goal in NCL I North action against the Fort Bragg Timberwolves. It was the season finale for the Knights
Standouts for Kelseyville were fullback Emily Young and forward Delia Gluck, who returned from a knee injury to play her first game at forward.
“And she nearly scored on a couple of shots,” Kelseyville coach Christie Frick said.
Fort Bragg led 3-0 after one half.
