BOONVILLE — Clear Lake kept pounding the ball Anderson Valley’s way and the Panthers kept returning it, over and over and over again. The Cardinals persevered and emerged with a hard-fought 25-23, 26-24, 25-22 victory in non-league varsity volleyball action Wednesday night in Boonville.
“Typical Anderson Valley team … pass, pass, pass, pass,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said as the Cardinals improved to 2-1 on the season. “They play good defense, but we finally broke through.”
Joy Ingalls and Emma Boatright led the assault on the Panthers at the net, Ingalls finishing with 15 kills and Boatright adding 11 kills and three blocks. Setters Sydney Howe and Zoey Petire also had a good night, according to Psalmonds.
Howe finished with 16 assists, 12 service points and three aces while Petrie logged 12 assists. Shaelyn McIntire did well on defense, digging up 17 balls and also logging seven kills.
“They don’t have anything spectacular,” Psalmonds said of the Panthers, “but they’re pretty decent.”
Clear Lake is off until Sept. 7 when it participates in the Fort Bragg Tournament. The Cardinals open their North Central League I on Sept. 10 with a home match against the Lower Lake Trojans.
In the junior varsity match Wednesday, Clear Lake had no problem sweeping Anderson Valley 25-6, 25-17 even with three of its players, two of them starters, out of action because of their participation in the Lake County Fair.
“It was really nice to get everybody in,” Clear Lake coach Morgan Psalmonds said. “Everybody got a lot of playing time.”
Montana Wells led the Cardinals with nine kills and Raina Clifton had a team-best five aces.
