KELSEYVILLE — The Kelseyville Knights face a sizable hurdle Saturday night when they take on Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa in the quarterfinal round of the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs beginning at 7 p.m. at the Kelseyville High School gym.
Kelseyville (32-5), the undefeated North Central League I champion, is the No. 3 seed in the Division IV field. Cardinal Newman (21-7), the runner-up in the North Bay-Oak League, is the No. 6 seed. The two teams crossed paths Oct. 13 during the NorCal Invitational in Novato, Kelseyville prevailing 26-24, 18-25, 15-12 en route to winning the tournament championship.
The Kelseyville-Cardinal Newman winner advances to the semifinals Wednesday against the winner of another Saturday quarterfinal between No. 2 Head-Royce of Oakland and No. 7 Roseland University Prep of Santa Rosa. If Head-Royce beats RUP, Head-Royce would host the Kelseyville-Cardinal Newman winner. If Head-Royce loses, the Kelseyville-Cardinal Newman winner will host the Halloween semifinal.
The Division IV championship match is Nov. 3 at a location to be determined. The NorCal Division IV playoffs follow, with the NorCal winner advancing to the CIF state championship match.
Kelseyville’s season ended a year ago in the quarterfinal round with a loss to Lick-Wilmerding of San Francisco.
The 2018 Knights are an up-gunned version compared to last year’s 26-4 squad. Four members of the team’s starting lineup were named to the All-North Central League I team on Monday by a vote of the league’s coaches, three landing on the first team and another on the second team.
Junior hitter/setter Allison Bryant is coming off a dominating 16-kill, 10-assist performance in Kelseyville’s 25-12, 25-6, 25-11 first-round victory over St. Helena on Wednesday night.
Cardinal Newman defeated Piedmont 25-14, 25-12, 25-23 in first-round action.
