UPPER LAKE >> Raelene Cromwell has gone through some pretty lean seasons as head coach of the Upper Lake High School varsity volleyball team, but this isn’t one of them.
Upper Lake made quick work of the Potter Valley Bearcats in a non-league match on Thursday evening at Upper Lake, winning 25-11, 25-13, 25-16 to improve to 3-1 on the season, easily its best start in years.
“I see them working harder at practice, a lot harder,” Cromwell said of her players, especially her veterans. “Their goal is to win a pennant.”
For many of her upperclassmen, Cromwell said it’s just a matter of feeling more comfortable this season as opposed to a year ago.
“The transition from JV to varsity was kind of tough for some of them,” Cromwell said. “They’re very talented and have been playing together since junior high. I think they’ve lacked confidence. They’re playing more confident this year.”
Christina Wilson’s eight kills led the team against Potter Valley. Kayla Nevarez, playing her first match at setter, contributed six assists. Natalie Karlsson added six aces, five assists and two kills while Kejhana Taylor had three kills.
Upper Lake also won the junior varsity match 25-12, 25-8 behind the serving of Madison Brackett, Angelica Ayala and Jasmin Velasco. Brackett served eight points in the first set and seven in the second. Ayala had six points in the first set and Velasco five in the second.
Upper Lake relinquished a 16-3 lead in the first set because its players were playing out of rotation. The score reverted to 4-3 Potter Valley but the Cougars went on to win anyway.
“The girls worked hard yesterday at practice and it definitely showed tonight,” Upper Lake coach Dani Paige Gudmundson Pena said.
