KELSEYVILLE >> Five North Central League I titles in six seasons is the goal in Kelseyville where the Knights’ varsity volleyball team returns nearly its entire roster intact after posting a 29-7 overall record in 2017.
Although Kelseyville did lose three seniors to graduation, all of whom contributed to the team’s success last season, the Knights return three All-Leaguers, including co-most valuable player Allison Bryant (outside hitter), who is only a junior. First-teamer Payton Conrad (libero) and second-teamer Grace Davidson (middle hitter), both seniors, also return.
The Knights won outright league titles in 2013, 2015 and 2016 before sharing the crown with a senior-dominated Clear Lake squad last season. Both teams finished 13-1 in the NCL I standings. Kelseyville also had a second-place finish in 2014, going 12-2 to St. Helena’s 14-0 that year.
Kelseyville is 66-4 (.943) in its last 70 league matches, three of those losses coming to St. Helena.
Coach Donelle McCallister’s already loaded squad also picked up another top athlete in senior Kat Brown, who is switching from soccer to volleyball this season. Brown earned All-League first-team honors in soccer for the Knights in 2017.
Kelseyville is home Saturday for a scrimmage that begins at 8:30 a.m. The Knigths see their first action Thursday when they hit the road for a non-league match against Ukiah. They are entered in the Middletown Tournament on Aug. 18.
