KELSEYVILLE >> After not being tested much in its first two North Central League I matches, the Kelseyville High School varsity volleyball team took a step up in competition Tuesday night against the St. Helena Saints.
These two league powerhouses have taken turns finishing first or second the last three seasons. The Knights emerged victorious in 2013, the Saints took home the title in 2014, and Kelseyville pushed its way back to the top in 2015.
Both teams entered Tuesday’s match, the first of their two league meetings in 2016, with 2-0 records, but Kelseyville proved the better team – much better, in fact – in a 25-8, 25-27, 25-14, 25-12 win that leaves the Knights (3-0) tied with Clear Lake (3-0) for first place.
“We have great hitters but so do other teams,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said. “It’s the team that plays best in the back row that’s probably going to win league. Our back row did a tremendous job tonight. They picked up just about everything.”
Lauren Rudnick, Tymeka Green, Payton Conrad and Kaylie Williams all came through in a big way, according to McCallister.
“Tymeka was diving all over the place,” McCallister said.
Carli Mendonca’s 11 kills up front led the Knights while setter Riley Goff had 30 assists and Williams seven aces.
Kelseyville also won the junior varsity match 25-20, 25-16 and is now 3-0 in league play. Coming off a tournament win Saturday in Healdsburg where the Knights went 5-0 and beat Roseland University Prep 25-22, 25-19 in the finals, Malia Brown’s seven aces and five assists helped lead the team against St. Helena. Paige Bour added six aces and seven assists, Emma Larsen registered four kills and Kalee Ellis had three kills.
