MIDDLETOWN >> The stage is set for a dramatic end to the North Central League I varsity volleyball race.
Kelseyville, the defending league champion, clinched a tie for the 2016 title on Tuesday night with a 25-9, 25-11, 25-12 win over the Middletown Mustangs, the 12th time in 13 league matches that the Knights (13-0) have swept their opponent. They need a win over Clear Lake (12-1) on Thursday in Kelseyville to secure a second straight undisputed championship and a third in four years. If Clear Lake wins, the two teams end up as co-champions.
“Clear Lake is just a really good team,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said. “We’re going to have to play really hard to beat them.”
Kelseyville won the first meeting 25-18, 25-22, 25-10 on Oct. 4 in Lakeport.
Allison Bryant, a freshman, led the Knights against Middletown. She had 11 kills, two blocks and four aces.
“She jumps out of the gym,” McCallister said.
Grace Davidson added six kills on only nine arms swings, Shalyn Keithly had three aces and two blocks, and Payton Conrad nearly had a perfect passing night, according to McCallister.
Brittney Holt and Olivia Glosser led Middletown (3-10) with five kills apiece.
Middletown closes out its season Thursday night at home against Cloverdale. It’s also the final match for veteran coach Jennifer Breiner, who is retiring after 21 seasons of coaching high school and club ball in Chico, Calistoga and Middletown. She’s spent the last decade coaching for the Mustangs.
“I’ll just be happy if we get a win on Thursday,” Breiner said.
The Knights also won the junior varsity match 25-9, 26-24 behind six kills from Kalee Ellis and five assists, four aces and three kills from Paige Bour.
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Upper Lake def. S. Academy
At Upper Lake, Kejhana Taylor had a team-high eight kills while Christina Wilson and Brenna Sanchez each had seven as the Upper Lake Cougars beat Sonoma Academy 25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12 in NCL II action.
The Cougars improved to 10-3 in the league standings and close out their schedule Thursday at Rincon Valley Christian. The winner clinches second place behind St. Vincent.
Upper Lake setter Natalie Karlsson contributed 16 assists, 14 digs, three kills and three aces to the victory. Wilson added 10 digs.
Sonoma Academy won the JV match 24-26, 25-20, 15-13. For Upper Lake, Maria Wade had six aces and two kills while teammate Adriana Lopez had 10 digs.
Girls soccer
St. Helena 1, Clear Lake 0
At St. Helena, Clear Lake was eliminated from the NCL I race after being shut out by the St. Helena Saints.
Clear Lake fell to 9-2-2 in the league standings while Middletown (10-0-3) beat Kelseyville to clinch its ninth straight league title.
St. Helena’s goal came in the seventh minute of the first half.
“They just outplayed us in the first few mintues to get that goal,” Clear Lake coach Tommy Burke said.
Boys soccer
Lower Lake 3, Cloverdale 3 (tie)
At Cloverdale, Lower Lake and Cloverdale battled to a waterlogged draw in Cloverdale, the sixth tie in 13 league games for the Trojans (5-2-6).
Steady rain fell throughout the game, according to Lower Lake coach Javier Michel.
“The ball wouldn’t go anywhere, it would just stop in the water,” Michel said.
Alejandro Rivera scored twice for the Trojans and Gilbert Orozco had the other goal.
St. Helena 7, Clear Lake 1
At St. Helena, Kevin Chavez connected on a 40-yard shot in the second half for Clear Lake’s lone goal in a league loss to St. Helena.
The Cardinals (0-11-2) had other scoring chances but ran into a bit of hard luck, such as Ulices Valencia kicking two shots off the post, according to Clear Lake coach Tony Paskaly.
