UPPER LAKE >> Freshman setter Neveah Solorio did her best Natalie Karlsson impersonation while senior outside hitter Christina Wilson hammered the Anderson Valley Panthers into submission on Tuesday night as the Upper Lake Cougars overcame a slow start to win 23-25, 25-9, 25-14, 25-18 in a non-league volleyball match that also doubled as Upper Lake’s season opener.
Solorio was making both her high school and varsity debut at setter, replacing a four-year varsity veteran in Karlsson.
“She made some nice sets for both Brenna (Sanchez) and Christina,” Upper Lake coach Raelene Cromwell said.
Wilson, one of only three returning players on the Upper Lake squad — middle hitter Sanchez and libero Briana Binns are the others — pounded out 23 kills. After recording a kill on her first touch of the match, she never let up, according to Cromwell.
“She just kept going,” Cromwell said. “She had a few errors but nothing big.”
Sanchez added seven kills and two blocks while Binns finished with 24 digs and 12 service points. Solorio ended up with 20 assists. The Cougars also received eight kills and two aces from sophomore outside hitter Kaila Willard.
Cromwell said she was impressed with the play of both Willard and Solorio, especially for a first match.
“Nerves got to them in the first game, but in the second set we did a lot better and came around,” Cromwell said of Upper Lake’s first-set loss. “And it carried right into the third set.”
Upper Lake emptied its bench in the fourth set.
“We wanted to get the subs in there and give them a chance to see what they can do,” Cromwell said.
In the junior varsity match, Upper Lake freshman Angel O’Sullivan served 11 straight points in the second set as the Cougars swept Anderson Valley 25-13, 25-9.
M’town def. RCP
At Santa Rosa, Vanessa Davis made her varsity coaching debut a match to remember as the Middletown Mustangs opened the season with a 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 non-league victory over Roseland Collegiate Prep.
“We looked really good,” Davis said. “We had solid play from the girls coming off the bench. They were ready and fired up.”
While Roseland Collegiate Prep was able to return some hard hits by Middletown, the Mustangs simply kept the ball alive and won the majority of rallies. “We played it through all night,” Davis said. “It was great to see.”
Defensive specialist Taelor Roderick served up 15 aces to go along with eight digs and middle hitter Taylor Griffin added 12 aces, two kills and two blocks. Other standouts for Middletown were outside hitter Amy Herrmann with seven kills, two blocks and five aces, and setter Yasi Heidary with 19 assists and nine aces.
“They are a great group of girls and a fast team,” Davis said.
Middletown hosts Colusa on Thursday beginning with JV action at 5 p.m.
Middletown’s JVs did not have a match on Tuesday because Roseland Collegiate does not field a JV team.
