LOWER LAKE — Coming off a tough loss to St. Helena on Tuesday, the Lower Lake Trojans outlasted the Clear Lake Cardinals 25-18, 18-25, 29-27, 21-25, 15-12 in a North Central League I varsity volleyball match on Thursday night in Lower Lake.
Both teams are now 3-1 in the league standings.
“It was really exciting,” Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy said of the five-game marathon, the crown jewel of which was a seesaw third game.
The Cardinals also made it exciting in game five, rallying from a 14-7 deficit.
“I don”t think Clear Lake hit the ball as well as they”re capable of hitting it and I know we didn”t,” Udy said. “Both teams played OK, but I think they can offer so much more.”
Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds concurred, saying the Cardinals had a tough night in the setting department.
“Our setting was off a little bit ? Morgan (Psalmonds) was setting it too close to the net and that”s not a good team to do it against,” Psalmonds said.
Lower Lake took advantage, especially junior Adrina Miller, as she pounded out 13 kills and had six blocks, both team highs.
“She”s good, she took advantage of that, that”s for sure,” Psalmonds said of Clear Lake”s sets being in proximity of the net.
Jessica Asbury led the Cardinals with 17 kills, Vanessa Tullos added 11 and Anna Westin had eight.
Kelsie Shoffeitt and Danacka Whittington had seven kills apiece for Lower Lake. Shoffeitt also had three blocks.
One of the keys to the match, according to Udy, was winning the first game, something the Trojans have struggled to do in their matches this season.
“We knew we needed to get that first game,” Udy said. “But they (Cardinals) came right back in the second game.”
Clear Lake hosts league leader St. Helena (4-0) on Tuesday. Lower Lake hosts Cloverdale (0-2).
In other volleyball action Thursday:
Fort Bragg def. Kelseyville
At Kelseyville, the Kelseyville Knights (0-3) are still looking for their first league win after losing in five games to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves, who pulled out a 25-17, 19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 17-15 victory.
Jeannie Johnson had a big night for Kelseyville with 14 kills and three aces. Teammate Jennifer Green added nine kills and three aces.
Mary McCallister”s passing was another plus for the Knights. Kyra Rudnick led Kelseyville with 14 digs while McCallister had 12.
St. Helena def. Middletown
At St. Helena, St. Helena improved to 4-0 in the NCL I standings with a rapid-fire 25-13, 25-11, 25-9 victory over the Middletown Mustangs (1-3).
Nika Gibbs had four kills for Middletown and Krystina Riccio added two kills, one block and six assists.
“St. Helena is a great team,” Middletown coach Suzanne Riccio said.
Boys” soccer
Cloverdale 5, Middletown 2
At Cloverdale, the Middletown Mustangs had a 2-1 lead early in the second half before the Cloverdale Eagles rallied to win in NCL I varsity boys” soccer action.
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie in the first half, Middletown scoring on a shot by Brandon Rannells, who headed in a corner kick from teammate Shawn Fromer.
Middletown grabbed a 2-1 lead on an Eric Lopez goal in the second half.
“We had it (the lead) for about 10 minutes,” said Rannells, who called it one of his team”s best efforts of the season.
“We know how good Cloverdale is and we definitely exceeded my expectations even though I don”t like to say that about a loss,” Rannells said. “My guys left it all on the field. There”s really nothing for me to be unhappy about.”
Middletown”s defensive back line helped keep Cloverdale”s offense in check, according to Rannells. “All those guys did a good job. I really can”t single out any one person.”
Middletown hosts Clear Lake on Tuesday at 5 p.m. as both teams go for their first win of the season.
