KELSEYVILLE >> Allison Bryant’s hitting and Payton Conrad’s passing propelled the Kelseyville Knights to a 25-15, 25-19, 25-15 North Central League I volleyball win over the Middletown Mustangs on Tuesday night in Kelseyville.
Off since Oct. 5 because of last week’s fire activity throughout the North Coast, the Knights (9-0 league) didn’t skip a beat while sending Middletown (3-6) to a straight-set loss. Bryant led the way with 16 kills on only 23 arm swings while Conrad had 10 digs for the two-time defending league champions.
Setter Tymeka Green added 17 assists and Shalyn Keithly and Kalee Ellis both had some key swings for the Knights, according to Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister.
“Middletown played much better than the last time we faced them,” McCallister said.
Kelseyville won’t get much rest the remainder of the week. The Knights are home Wednesday night to play Fort Bragg, they travel to Willits on Friday for another league match, and they hit the road again Saturday to participate in the American Canyon Tournament.
Amy Herrmann’s five kills led a Middletown team that hadn’t played a match since Oct. 5, just like Kelseyville. An advisory evacuation notice issued for Middletown last week because of the Tubbs Fire meant that the Mustangs were unable to use their own gym to practice or hold matches.
“We looked really good considering we haven’t been able to practice,” Middletown coach Vanessa Davis said. “The girls had some great hits. I’m proud of them.”
Herrmann, a senior, led the way. Along with her five kills, she added 11 digs and two aces.
“She had all-around great play tonight,” Davis said.
Alessandra Diaz, the Middletown setter, finished with eight assists and two aces.
Kelseyville also won the junior varsity match 25-11, 23-25, 15-11 behind four kills, four digs and 10 assists from Alexa Vargas, five kills and three aces from Hayllie Beverlin, and five kills and two aces from Megan Holland.
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Clear Lake def. Willits
At Lakeport,Camille Donald and Valerie Hutton had big nights from the service line as the Clear Lake Cardinals made quick work of the Willits Wolverines 25-5, 25-10, 25-14 in NCL I action.
Donald served 12 straight points to close out the first set and finished with 19 service points overall, including four aces. She also tied Kiana Richardson for the team lead in kills with eight.
Hutton logged 14 service points with a team-best five aces and also had four kills and two blocks as the Cardinals improved to 9-1 in the league standings.
Madi Ferguson added nine digs and Clear Lake setter Kylie Udy had 20 assists.
“She did a good job distributing the ball,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said of Udy.
Clear Lake won the JV match as well, beating Willits 25-13, 25-11. Emma Keiser’s six kills powered the Cardinals (8-2) while Shaelyn McIntire had a team-high five aces.
Both Clear Lake teams return to action Thursday in Middletown.
