LAKEPORT >> Despite wasting a 22-13 lead in the second game, the Anderson Valley Panthers did more than enough to beat the Clear Lake Cardinals 25-18, 25-27, 25-17, 25-22 in a non-league varsity volleyball match on Thursday evening in Lakeport.
Clear Lake wasn”t without its chances against an Anderson Valley team that always excels on defense and has added some offensive punch in the last couple of season.
“We should have won the fourth game, we had like a 20-15 lead,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said.
The Cardinals” primary deficiency against the Panthers was its inconsistent passing, according to Psalmonds.
“We passed at the net and you can”t pass at the net,” she said. “When we got the ball to our hitters, we were putting it away.”
Rachel Wingler and Aliza Atkins each had 15 kills to lead the Cardinals. Atkins also had 12 digs. Other standouts were setter Emily Psalmonds with 39 assists and nine digs and Logan Robinson with 16 digs.
“We played better after the first game,” Psalmonds said.
Clear Lake did win the junior varsity match 25-22, 25-10 behind three kills and six service points from Kiana Richardson.
Clear Lake”s varsity returns to action Saturday at the Arcata Tournament.
In other volleyball action Thursday:
Upper Lake def. Lower Lake
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars picked up their first victory of the season with a 25-23, 21-25, 27-25, 25-20 non-league win over the Lower Lake Trojans, a rematch of a Sept. 2 meeting won by Lower Lake in Lower Lake.
“There was more communication out there tonight,” Upper Lake coach Raelene Cromwell said. “We had better communication and better attitudes. The girls played very well and I”m proud of them.”
Several Cougars distinguished themselves against the Trojans, according to Cromwell.
Janee Swaney, filling in at setter, contributed 14 service points, including five aces, and also had five kills.
“She stepped in at setter and did a great job,” Cromwell said.
Jojo Augustine led the team with 11 kills and also had seven service points while Sierra Fugate added eight kills, five blocks, seven points and three aces. LaShaye Taylor may have turned in the best overall game, tying Augustine for the team lead in kills with 11 while also recording 10 digs, eight points and three aces.
Upper Lake”s JV team continues to roll as well. The Cougars improved to 4-0 with a 25-14, 25-16 victory. Standouts were Natalie Karlsson with 10 points and six aces, Christina Wilson with eight points, five aces, four kills and two digs, and Liliana Roman with five points and three aces.
