LAKEPORT — Home is where the heart is ? and where the wins are for the Clear Lake High School varsity volleyball team.
Behind 16 kills and seven digs from Vanessa Tullos, the Cardinals beat the Kelseyville Knights 25-19, 25-15, 25-12 in North Central League I action Tuesday night at Lakeport. Clear Lake improved to 11-2 in league play, including a 7-0 home mark. The Cardinals, who entered play against Kelseyville trailing St. Helena (11-1) by a game in the standings, close out their regular season Thursday in Middletown against the last-place Mustangs.
St. Helena hosted Fort Bragg on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time.
Clear Lake snapped a three-match Kelseyville win streak while improving to 23-9 overall. After Thursday”s match with Middletown, the Cardinals are likely headed to the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs, which begin next week. The at-large and seeding meeting is Sunday.
“We played well,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said. “We were pretty scrappy. Our team wouldn”t let the ball drop, which is great for us but frustrating for the other team.”
Tullos, who usually leads the Cardinals in aces with a powerful jump serve, turned in one of her better performances at the net, according to Psalmonds.
“Probably one of her best nights in a while,” Psalmonds said.
Jessica Asbury added seven kills and a team-best six aces and four blocks while setter Morgan Psalmonds dished out 29 assists and had six digs.
“She did well distributing the ball tonight,” Psalmonds said. “She was on it.”
Coree Alexander led the Clear Lake defense with 12 digs.
Jennifer Green”s seven kills paced the Knights (4-8). Other team leaders were Abby McQueen with two aces and Jeannie Johnson with 10 digs.
“They”re very good,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said of the Cardinals. “They”re very consistent, they pick up everything.”
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Lower Lake def. Willits
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans improved to 9-4 in league with a 21-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-13 win over the Willits Wolverines. It was the final home match for the Trojans, who close out the regular season Thursday in Kelseyville.
“The first three games we went completely through the motions with zero intensity,” Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy said. “We didn”t start playing until the end of the third game.”
Kelsie Shoffeitt”s 13 kills and three blocks paced the Trojans, who have locked up sole possession of third place in the NCL I standings. Adrina Miller added nine kills and three blocks while Danacka Whittington had three blocks as well. She also led the team with three aces.
Roseland Prep def. Upper Lake
At Upper Lake, Roseland Prep dropped the first game but rallied to win the next three while beating the Upper Lake Cougars 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-17 in NCL II action.
The Cougars hurt themselves at the net with 33 hitting errors.
“”We had a lot of kills but it wasn”t enough,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said. “Our hitting errors outweighed our kills.”
Upper Lake setter Crystal Mendoza had no problem distributing the ball to Upper Lake”s hitters, according to Coatney.
“She did a good job, she played real smart,” Coatney said. “We just didn”t take advantage of it.”
Kat Edmonds” 12 kills led the Cougars. Other leaders were BobbieLynn Collins with eight kills and two aces, Olivia Carter with seven kills and two blocks, Amber McQueen with six kills and Kelsey Pearl with three kills and five aces.
Roseland Prep won the junior varsity match 25-22, 25-20 despite a strong effort by the Cougars, according to Coatney.
“They probably played one of their better games of the season,” Coatney said.
Sierra Fugate led the Cougars with five kills and Skylar Orozco added four kills.
The Cougars close out their league and regular-season schedule at home Thursday against Calistoga.
Cloverdale def. Middletown
At Cloverdale, the Cloverdale Eagles made quick work of the Middletown Mustangs in NCL I play, winning 25-18, 25-6, 25-15.
Middletown (1-12) has dropped 11 straight league matches since beating Willits on Sept. 22 at home.
No individual statistics were reported.
Middletown hosts Clear Lake in its season finale on Thursday.
