ROHNERT PARK — The Lower Lake Trojans didn’t win their non-league varsity volleyball match with the Rancho Cotate Cougars on Monday night in Rohnert Park, but they did win an incredible point in the third set of a 25-17, 25-19, 25-11 loss.
Rancho Cotate hit a hard shot that struck Lower Lake setter Jordan Rivera in the temple, but the Trojans kept the ball alive through a long rally that each team appeared to win on a couple of different occasions before Lower Lake finally did.
“It went back and forth forever,” Lower coach Niki Emberson said. “Poor Jordan was holding her face the whole time. At least we won the point.”
The Trojans battled hard in each of the first two sets before losing steam, according to Emberson.
“The girls definitely got tired toward the end and I put in my reserves,” Emberson said. “We had to work for every single point tonight.”
Kayla Doud’s seven kills, five blocks and three aces led the Trojans.
“The best I’ve seen her play,” Emberson said.
Shelby Sapeta finished with four kills, 10 digs and two aces, and Rivera had seven assists.
In JV action Monday night, Rancho Cotate defeated Lower Lake, 25-11, 25-15.
In volleyball action Saturday:
CIVT Tournament
At Sacramento, Clear Lake High School’s varsity volleyball team started slow but ended up with a 3-3 record on Saturday while competing in the CIVT Tournament.
Three starters missed the team’s 5 a.m. departure time for Sacramento although they eventually showed up during Clear Lake’s first match in pool play against Forest Lake Christian, which the Cardinals lost 25-17, 18-25, 15-13. They remained on the bench during a 25-9, 25-22 victory over Rio Vista and finally returned to the court during a 25-13, 25-17 loss to Vanden, which advanced to the tournament championship match against West Valley.
“They had four Aly Bryant’s on their team,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said of the Vanden squad. Bryant is the star outside hitter for the Kelseyville Knights. “It was crazy.”
After going 1-2 in pool play, Clear Lake advanced to the gold bracket in the 40-team tournament field and went 2-1. The Cardinals beat Winters 25-15, 25-7 and Bradshaw Christian 25-21, 25-15 before losing to Liberty Ranch 25-21, 25-21.
Two standouts for the Cardinals were Raina Clifton, who was called up from the junior varsity squad for the tournament, in the back row and Natalie Perry up front.
“They both had a good tournament,” Psalmonds said.
