LAKE COUNTY — The league and regular season for Lake County”s five high school volleyball teams wrapped up Thursday night with three matches in the county.
In North Central League I action, Clear Lake beat Middletown 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 25-10, Kelseyville knocked off Lower Lake 25-20, 25-14, 25-23, and in NCL II play it was Upper Lake taking care of Calistoga 25-12, 25-15, 25-23.
Clear Lake is a good bet to receive an at-large berth Sunday when the North Coast Section Division IV playoff field is announced Upper Lake should qualify in Division V. Lower Lake also has a shot to advance in Division IV. Kelseyville and Middletown won”t be moving on.
Clear Lake vs. Middletown
At Middletown, the Clear Lake Cardinals completed a solid 12-2 run in the NCL I standings. Depending on how St. Helena (12-1) fared in its final match Thursday at Willits, the Cardinals will either be league co-champs or league runner-up.
“We were a little sluggish on our feet tonight,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said. “They (Mustangs) played the best I”ve seen them play this season.”
Vanessa Tullos” 15 kills and Jessica Asbury”s 13 kills and six blocks led the Cardinals, who were 24-9 during the regular season. Anna Westin added seven kills. Setter Morgan Psalmonds had 39 assists.
Clear Lake entered the match minus one player (Valerie Strate) and with another (Tullos) at less than 100 percent because of illness. Strate bumped heads with teammate Psalmonds during a practice and was held out.
Rachel Sutton had seven kills and two aces to pace Middletown and Krystina Riccio added three kills, one block, three aces and 13 assists. Other leaders were Aly Mino and Nika Gibbs with four kills and one ace apiece.
Middletown closes out league play at 1-13.
Lower Lake vs. Kelseyville
At Kelseyville, longtime Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy closed out her 18th and final league season at the helm of he Trojans with a loss despite 12 kills by Adrina Miller and five each from Shadae White and Kelsie Shoffeitt.
Lower Lake finishes up at 9-5 in league, good for third place behind St. Helena and Clear Lake. Kelseyville closes it out at 5-9.
“I haven”t seen them hit the ball this well,” Udy said of the Knights.
The Trojans won”t know until Sunday if they”ve secured an at-large berth in the playoffs, but it they do, they”ll likely be hitting the road in the opening round. Unless they pick up their level of play, it won”t matter much, according to Udy.
“You just don”t want to play the way we did in your final league match,” she said. “You should be playing your best volleyball right now.”
Jennifer Green”s eight kills and nine aces powered the Knights, who lose only two players to graduation ? Kyra Rudnick and Ryan Van Housen. Jeannie Johnson added seven kills and Alex Pruett had four.
“First time they”ve clicked seriously as a team,” Kelseyville coach Donnelle McCallister said. “Everyone did their job.”
Kelseyville setter Bonnie McCallister had 24 assists while Rudnick led the team with seven digs.
“Probably the best setting game she”s had,” McCallister said of her daughter”s play.
Calistoga vs. Upper Lake
At Upper Lake, even with their best player, out of the lineup, the Cougars put the finishing touches on a 9-5 league campaign with a victory over the Wildcats. Upper Lake will apply for a Division V at-large berth at 13-11 overall.
Kat Edmonds, who leads the team in kills, missed the match with the stomach flu, according to Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney. She did show up to the court as the team”s seniors were honored in their final home match.
“She wanted to play,” Coatney said. “The rest of the girls stepped up real well.”
Picking up the slack with Edmonds out of action were BobbieLynn Collins with seven kills and six aces, Amber McQueen with seven kills, Olivia Carter with five kills and 14 digs, setter Kelsey Pearl with three aces and 22 assists, and Deanna Doyal with three kills.
“Crystal Mendoza filled in as our other opposite hitter,” Coatney said. “She didn”t have that many kills, but she was key on defense.”
Upper Lake also won the JV match 25-12, 25-15, 25-23. Sierra Fugate had six kills and Skylar Orozco three to lead the Cougars.
