KELSEYVILLE >> The difference between the Kelseyville Knights and St. Helena Saints on Wednesday evening was as simple as counting to 10.
“All 10 of my players got the job done,” Kelseyville volleyball coach Donelle McCallister said of the undefeated Knights’ 25-24, 25-21, 25-21 North Central League I home win over the St. Helena Saints, a huge victory that puts Kelseyville squarely in the driver’s seat in the league race.
Kelseyville, now 10-0, is not only the lone undefeated team in the league, but everyone else in the NCL I now has at least two losses, including the Saints (7-2), defending league champions.
“The best that we’ve played as a team all season,” McCallister said. “We did a little better job serving, but it was on defense where we won it. They have a lot of good hitters and we dug ‘em up, and I think that’s where we beat them.”
While Carli Mendonca and Heidy Cano had a good night at the net for the Knights, McCallister said her other eight players – Riley Goff, Lauren Rudnick, Kendyll Nunn, Payton Conrad, Kaylie Williams, Shayln Keithly, Tymeka Green and Taylor Paulich – all contributed to the victory in one way or another.
“If we got down by a few points we didn’t get flustered,” McCallister said. “The captains led the team.”
St. Helena won the junior varsity match 25-20, 25-14. Grace Duty had three kills and two aces for the Knights while Megan Mills had three digs and two aces.
In other volleyball action Wednesday:
Clear Lake def. M’town
At Lakeport, moving Maddie West to middle hitter after a first-set loss worked wonders for the Clear Lake Cardinals, who rallied for a 13-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20 league win over the Middletown Mustangs.
With the Cardinals (6-2) in need of a big lift after getting flattened by the Mustangs (4-3) in the opening set, Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds flip-flopped West and Courtney Hiatt on the floor, moving Hiatt from middle to opposite hitter and West from opposite to the middle.
“We played much better after that,” Psalmonds said. “Middletown was hurting us in the middle with quick attacks and we kind of shut that off. Maddie is fast and has good reflexes. Both of them did great.”
West finished with 10 kills and two blocks and Hiatt added five kills and two blocks. Clear Lake setter Emily Psalmonds also had a big night with 29 assists and 16 digs.
Psalmonds said she was impressed with the play of the Mustangs.
“They have a good team,” she said. “We were scrappy tonight and that’s what saved us.”
Girls’ soccer
St. Helena 4, M’town 3
At St. Helena, the Middletown Mustangs lost their first league game after surrendering four first-half goals to the St. Helena Saints.
“We had so many injuries,” Middletown coach Amy Emerson said. “And we didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Middletown traveled to Fort Bragg on Tuesday and won 3-1, but the physical game against the Timberwolves took its toll, according to Emerson.
Middletown is now 9-1 in league and 10-3 overall.
Kaleigh Alves scored each of Middletown’s first two goals and freshman Julisa Garcia had the other.
The Mustangs hit the road again on Friday to play Clear Lake in Lakeport.
Tech 8, Upper Lake 0
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars held Tech of Rohnert Park scoreless for the first 27 minutes of the first half in NCL II action.
Tech eventually broke through to take a 2-0 halftime lead, then broke the game open with a flurry of goals in the second half.
“My girls played a hard game the first half,” Upper Lake coach Mandy Robbins said. “The second half they lost steam.”
Three standouts on defense for Upper Lake were Miranda Huntley, Cheyanne Obedoza and Laisha Altamirano, according to Robbns.
Upper Lake keeper Jazlyn Bonilla saved 16 of 24 shots.
Boys’ soccer
M’town 4, St. Helena 4 (tie)
At St. Helena, down 3-0 before they could catch their collective breath, the Middletown Mustangs rallied to tie St. Helena in a NCL I contest that featured seven first-half goals.
Jorge Morales’ second goal of the game during stoppage time in the second half eventually pulled Middletown (5-2-3) even.
“Overall it was a great game, a great experience being down like that and yet coming back to tie a good team on their own field,” Middletown coach Luis Chairez said. “It shows that we have the right attitude and a lot of heart to come back like that. I’m really proud of them.”
St. Helena’s first three goals came in a span of five minutes to open the first half.
“They came out like Tasmanian Devils,” Chairez said. “They caught us flat-footed.”
Victor Lopez and Jake Samson scored for Middletown to make it 3-2. Morales then tied it in the 24th minute. St. Helena regained the lead right before halftime.
