UPPER LAKE >> Upper Lake volleyball coach Raelene Cromwell said she wanted to get her seniors at least one more match following Tuesday’s first-round playoff meeting with Berean Christian of Walnut Creek, but the Eagles wouldn’t cooperate.
Berean Christian, the No. 9 seed in the North Coast Section Division V field, scored the minor upset by beating No. 8 Upper Lake 25-18, 25-14, 20-25, 25-16 at Upper Lake High School, a loss that ends the Cougars’ season.
One of Upper Lake’s best teams in years closes out the 2016 campaign at 16-5. Along the way, the Cougars finished second in the North Central League II standings behind undefeated champion St. Vincent.
“It was a great season overall,” Cromwell said of her veteran-dominated club, one that will lose five seniors, four of them starters, to graduation.
Berean Christian (15-12) moves on to the quarterfinals on Saturday against No. 1 seed Head Royce.
“They were a really decent team and I thought we matched up pretty well with them,” Cromwell said of the Eagles.
Unfortunately, the Cougars were their own worst enemy at times, struggling with their serving and digging games the first two sets.
“A lot of our errors helped them,” she said.
Upper Lake senior setter Natalie Karlsson closed out her career with 23 assists, 13 digs and two aces. Isabel Rorabaugh led the team with eight kills, Christina Wilson added seven kills, and Brenna Sanchez, Kejhana Taylor and Dakota Fugate each had six kills.
The Cougars did receive some solid play on defense from Briana Binns, who had 12 digs in the back row.
