KELSEYVILLE –Not this time.
The Kelseyville Knights were all business Wednesday night while dispatching the St. Helena Saints 25-20, 25-22, 27-25 in a North Central League I varsity volleyball battle for first place at Kelseyville. It was the seventh straight win for the Knights, who haven”t lost since falling 25-19, 25-21, 25-22 to St. Helena on Sept. 24 in the league opener for both teams at St. Helena.
With the victory, the Knights improve to 7-1 in the league standings, a half-game ahead of Middletown (6-1) and one and a half games ahead of St. Helena (5-2).
“Nothing”s settled … nothing”s settled,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said with an eye on the league race, which is just past the midway point for the Knights, who still have a crucial Oct. 28 home match remaining against Middletown.
“It”s extremely tough what we have left. We have to play each game tough and we have to stay healthy,” McCallister added.
Jeannie Johnson was the go-to person for Kelseyville against the Saints. The senior led the way with 16 kills on 48 arm swings and only three hitting errors.
“Our setters did a good job of feeding her all night long,” McCallister said.
The Knights” defense also came through. Mary McCallister logged 16 digs and Karissa Huggins” back row play helped Kelseyville win its rematch with the Saints, according to McCallister.
“She stepped it up and was really big for us in the back row,” McCallister said.
Since playing the Saints almost a month ago in St. Helena, McCallister said Kelseyville”s serving and hitting consistency have greatly improved.
“I think we made only 12 hitting errors all night,” McCallister said.
The jump serves of Riley Goff, who led the Knights with 17 assists on Wednesday, and Mary McCallister have made a difference too, according to McCallister.
“They weren”t jump serving when we played them the last time,” McCallister said.
McCallister also had high praise for another player — St. Helena junior libero Erica Crean.
“She picks up stuff no one else can get to,” McCallister said.
