COLUSA >> Clear Lake High School’s young and rebuilding varsity volleyball team certainly didn’t catch a break by playing Colusa in its season opener on Tuesday evening in Colusa, falling in straight sets 25-10, 25-14, 25-16.
“They’re pretty good,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said of the Colusa squad. “I wish we could have played them later in the season. We’ve had only four practices.”
Clear Lake, 29-7 a year ago with a veteran-dominated squad, played better in every game but simply couldn’t match Colusa’s firepower.
“I’ve got a young, rebuilding team, that’s for sure,” said Psalmonds, who hasn’t even finalized her varsity roster yet.
Daijanae Landers led the Cardinals (0-1) with four kills, Emma Boatright added two kills and two blocks, setter Kylie Udy had 12 assists, and Madi Ferguson collected 18 digs.
“She dug the ball up a lot,” Psalmonds said of Ferguson, who along with Udy are among a handful of holdovers from last year’s squad, one that won a share of the North Central League I title.
Clear Lake’s junior varsity squad, now coached by Psalmonds’ oldest daughter, Morgan, lost its season debut as well, 25-8, 25-10.
Both Clear Lake teams return to action Wednesday night at home against Upper Lake beginning with the JV match at 5 p.m.
In other action Tuesday:
St. Vincent def. Middletown
At Petaluma, the Middletown Mustangs put up a fight in their season opener but host St. Vincent won the non-league match 25-18, 26-24, 23-25, 25-15.
“I’m happy, I liked it,” Middletown coach Vanessa Davis said of her team’s first effort of the 2018 season. “I have five seniors this year and all of them can play.”
Middletown had only three practices before Tuesday’s season-opening match.
“We couldn’t use our own gym,” Davis said.
Middletown’s gym served as an evacuee center during the Mendocino Complex fires.
“We had to practice in Calistoga,” Davis said. “Our gym opened yesterday (Monday).”
Several Mustangs turned in strong showings in the team’s season debut. Senior middle hitter Abi Hibner had a team-high 11 blocks to go along with six kills, senior middle hitter Taylor Griffin led the squad with nine kills and also had five aces, five digs and two blocks, and junior outside hitter Abbey Brown contributed four kills and five aces. Middletown also received a lift from senior setter Yasamine Heidary, who racked up 11 assists, 10 digs and two aces.
“We had some killer kills,” Davis said. “Our defense was looking pretty good, too.”
Middletown hits the road Thursday to play Colusa.
The Mustangs’ junior varsity squad beat St. Vincent in three sets. Scores were not available.
