KELSEYVILLE — As far as Donelle McCallister is concerned, the first four sets during a North Coast Section Division IV quarterfinal-round volleyball match Saturday night between the host Kelseyville Knights and the Cardinal Newman Cardinals were relatively inconsequential compared to the only one that really mattered.
“That was the game,” McCallister said of a back-and-forth, toe-to-toe slugfest of a fifth set that decided which team would advance to the semifinal round on Wednesday night against Head-Royce.
Turns out that team was No. 3 seed Kelseyville, a 25-16, 16-25, 16-25, 25-19, 17-15 winner over the sixth-seeded and slightly stunned Cardinals before a packed house at Kelseyville High School.
And that fifth set was all about defense and four-year varsity starter Payton Conrad, according to McCallister, who said her veteran libero dug up everything the hard-hitting Cardinals could throw at her.
“Their No. 16 (Kimi Waller), she’s left-handed and just a freshman, was hitting the ball so hard,” McCallister said. “And so was their No. 18 (Makenzie Berg). They were pounding the ball at her and all Payton did was dig, dig, dig.
“I don’t care how many hitters you have,” McCallister added. “You’ve got to have the defense and Payton did a great job. I think she missed only one (dig) and she went skidding across the court chasing the ball.”
Kelseyville’s will to win during an incredible season for the undefeated North Central League I champions, now 33-5 overall, was never more evident than after the Knights, their season riding on the line, huddled before the fourth set trailing two games to one in the best-of-five match.
“I basically said, ‘Are you done? Are you ready to give up? Just go out there and do your best and leave it all on the floor.’ And that’s what they did.”
The fifth set featured multiple dramatic moments. Leading 14-13, one of Cardinal Newman’s most reliable servers put one into the net. The Cardinals were called for a controversial lift moments later.
McCallister said it was a close play and the call could have gone either way.
With the match tied at 15, the Knights won the final two points to keep their season alive and pointed toward Oakland where they’ll play No. 2 seed Head-Royce in the semifinals Wednesday at 7 p.m., just a victory away from the sectional championship match next Saturday.
“They played the game of their lives,” McCallister said of the fifth set. “There was real pressure on us and we were feeling it.”
Conrad finished with 34 digs and five aces, both team bests.
“She played probably the best game she’s ever had,” McCallister said.
Also shining in the hot spotlight was senior hitter Grace Davidson with nine kills and no hitting errors. Allison Bryant finished with 23 kills and 12 assists while Paige Bour had four aces and 22 assists. Kat Brown also had some key digs.
“They all played so well,” McCallister said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Looking ahead to Head-Royce, McCallister said she has no information on the Jayhawks other than they’re a good team with some quality victories this season. The Knights will simply concentrate on playing their game.
“They kind of don’t assume anything,” McCallister said of the Knights. “They just go out and play hard. That’s one of the nice things about this team.”
