CLOVERDALE >> Playing in Cloverdale for the first time as head coach of the Upper Lake High School varsity volleyball team, Raelene Cromwell watched her Cougars sweep the Eagles 25-22, 25-8, 25-20 in non-league action.
“We were kind of blah in the first game,” Cromwell said of the Cougars’ play in the opening set.
The second set was a different story thanks to a big block by Dakota Fugate, a play that seemed to energize the Cougars (2-1).
“It set the tone from there,” Cromwell said. “They seemed to get energy from that block and played much better the rest of the way.”
Natalie Karlsson, the Upper Lake setter, turned in a strong overall effort with 14 assists, six digs, two kills and five aces. Other standouts were Kejhana Taylor with seven kills and four digs, Christina Wilson with five blocks and 10 digs, and Brenna Sanchez with six kills.
Cromwell said she was able to give her three reserves considerable playing time in the win.
The Cougars are home Thursday to play Potter Valley.
Cloverdale did win the junior varsity match 25-19, 25-19 despite strong serving from Upper Lake’s Alyssa Navarro and Jasmin Volasco.
“We were a little flat and our coverage was off,” Upper Lake coach Dani Paige Gudmundson Pena said. “We will get those problem areas taken care of.”
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
El Molino def. M’town
At Forestville, El Molino rolled past Middletown 25-13, 25-13, 25-20 in non-league action.
“El Molino is a good and consistent team, but we just made error after error,” Middletown coach Jennifer Breiner said. “We looked like we weren’t ready.”
Brittney Holt had four aces, two kills and one block for the Mustangs, now 1-2 on the season. Freshman Abby Brown, recently promoted from the JV team, led the Mustangs with five blocks.
El Molino won the JV match 25-13, 25-18.
Middletown plays at Healdsburg on Thursday.
