FORESTVILLE >> Two games down in a best-of-five match against the El Molino Lions on Wednesday evening, the Kelseyville Knights stormed back for a 22-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-16, 15-13 non-league varsity volleyball victory at Forestville.
“A real positive result from a team down and out,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said of the 2-0 deficit the Knights faced. “We started working with each other and pulled it out.”
While many players contributed to the comeback, sophomore libero Lauren Rudnick, back in the lineup after sustaining an ankle injury last week, played a big part.
“She worked her heart out and she really had her serving going ? it brought us back,” McCallister said.
Kayla Zarate led the Knights with 16 kills, Abby McQueen added another 12 kills, and Heidy Cano had nine kills.
“The first two games were rough, but everybody go their act together,” McCallister said.
El Molino won the junior varsity match.
In other volleyball action Wednesday:
M”town def. Elsie Allen
At Santa Rosa, Renee Edwards smacked 12 kills and had a pair of blocks as the Middletown Mustangs swept the Elsie Allen Lobos in non-league action. Ginacia Dustako added nine aces and nine digs while sophomore Brittney Holt led the team with 10 aces on only 21 serves. She also had two kills.
Middletown”s junior varsity team won 25-8, 25-9.
The Middletown JVs host a 12-team tournament on Saturday. The varsity squad returns to action Tuesday at Willits in the league opener for both teams.
Lower Lake def. Calistoga
At Calistoga, the Lower Lake Trojans took charge early and swept the Calistoga Wildcats 25-9, 25-23, 25-19 in non-league action.
“We had a lot less service errors and they were playing together,” Lower Lake coach Darcie Schmidt said of the Trojans” fast start in the first set. “We kind of played down to Calistoga”s level in the second game.”
Emma Diener had a big service nice with 14 points, including a stretch of seven straight at one point in the match, and five aces. Ashlynn Mock”s play in the back row – she had eight digs – was another plus, according to Schmidt as were Brooke Taliaferro”s seven kills.
“We kept up the intensity,” Schmidt said.
Lower Lake returns to action tonight against Rincon Valley Christian in Santa Rosa.
Girls” soccer
RVC 7, Upper Lake 1
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars fell to the Rincon Valley Christian Eagles in a game during which Cougars keeper Jazlyn Bonilla stayed plenty busy.
“They had 31 shots and she only let seven of them in,” Upper Lake coach Mandy Robbins said. “She did a really good job and stayed positive the whole way.”
Rincon Valley led 4-1 after one half. Amber Drake scored Upper Lake”s goal with an assist from Julia Mooney.
“My girls weren”t playing their game,” Robbins said. “But Rincon Valley has a great passing team and too much speed for us. My girls couldn”t get a whole lot done.”
Upper Lake is home Monday to play Technology at 4:30 p.m.
In late Tuesday action:
Boys” soccer
Kelseyville 3, St. Helena 0
At St. Helena, the Kelseyville Knights used a strong performance by their defense as well as three second-half goals to shut out the St. Helena Saints in the North Central League I opener for both teams.
Elias Alvarez, Omar Rodriguez and Pedro Garcia scored in the second half as the Kelseyville offense gradually acclimated to the artificial playing surface at St. Helena.
“It”s actually more difficult to settle the ball down,” Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said. “It takes some getting used to.”
St. Helena, a nemesis for Kelseyville in past seasons, couldn”t solve a Kelseyville defense that denied them at every turn. Leading the way were Rodriguez and Eduardo Castellanos, according to Ledesma, who also gave high marks to his keeper, Antonio Velasquez.
“He made some nice stops,” Ledesma said.
The Knights are home today against Cloverdale.
Girls” soccer
Fort Bragg 8
Lower Lake 2
At Lower Lake, Karina Perez scored both of Lower Lake”s goals in a league-opening loss to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves. Rosalinda Cuevas and Micaela Murray had assists.
“Even though we lost, we ended thegame with our heads up,” Lower Lake coach Kali Begley said.
Volleyball
Roseland def. Lower Lake
At Lower Lake, in a non-league match that went the distance, Roseland Prep rallied to beat Lower Lake 26-28, 25-16, 21-25, 25-16, 15-9.
Lower Lake struggled with its passing game but did serve the ball better than in previous matches, according to coach Darcie Schmidt.
“We weren”t getting the ball to our setter, so she couldn”t set properly,” Schmidt said.
Roseland Prep”s defense picked up several hard smashes by Lower Lake”s hitters.
“They played great defense,” she said.
Jolene Scarborough had six blocks and four kills to lead the Trojans. Brooke Taliaferro had five kills.
