KELSEYVILLE — The Kelseyville Knights, five-time defending North Central League I varsity volleyball champions, did something Tuesday night that they’ve done only once dating back through the 2015 season; lose a league match.
Roseland University Prep of Santa Rosa, the newest NCL I member, handed Kelseyville its first league loss since 2017 (to Clear Lake), 25-18, 25-19, 25-11, in the NCL I opener for both teams at Kelseyville High School.
“They’re definitely strong,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said of the RUP squad, which also has Knights for its mascot. “They wait for you to make errors.”
Kelseyville lost its entire 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic, just like other teams in the Coastal Mountain Conference, and has only one returning player from its 2019 squad, middle blocker Kaylei Davis.
“She’s my only returning varsity player and she only played part of the time in 2019,” McCallister said.
The Knights had precious little time to prepare for their league opener. Practice opened Aug. 9, a little more than two weeks ago, and the Knights, apart from scrimmages, had only one preseason tuneup, the Rancho Cotate Tournament last weekend in Rohnert Park where they went 1-4.
“We need time to put the pieces together, and hopefully sooner than later,” McCallister said of her young squad.
RUP also won the junior varsity match 25-19, 25-18.
Kelesyville’s scheduled league match Thursday with Lower Lake has been postponed because a Lower Lake player recently tested positive for COVID-19 and the Trojans are in quarantine protocol. The Knights are scheduled to compete in the Cougar Invitational on Saturday in Upper Lake.
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Colusa def. Clear Lake
At Colusa, a strong Colusa team beat Clear Lake 25-15, 25-16, 25-15 in non-league action, dropping the Cardinals to 2-1 on the season.
“Two years ago as JVs they killed us,” Clear Lake head coach Marci Psalmonds said of the Redhawks. “I knew we had to bring our A game if we were going to beat them. We had to play great against them but we didn’t.”
Colusa’s front line pounded the ball at Clear Lake and the Cardinals’ middle hitters struggled, according to Psalmonds.
Clear Lake’s back row had a busy night digging balls up. Raina Clifton led the team with 23 digs and Cady Harmon had 16. Sierra Bruch’s seven kills were a team best. She also had nine assists and three blocks. Among other Cardinals, Montana Wells had four kills.
“Sydney Howe held us together well,” Psalmonds said of the senior, who had a team-high 10 assists. “She kept us calm through the whole match.”
Clear Lake opens its league schedule Thursday at Willits.
In JV action Tuesday, Colusa beat Clear Lake 25-21, 25-13. The Cardinals started out strong but lost a key player, Camrin Pivniska, to a rolled ankle in the first set. She had six kills and six digs when she left the floor, according to Psalmonds, who coached both Clear Lake teams on Tuesday.
“We were a little lost when Camrin went down,” Psalmonds said.
Rylie Andrews ended up leading the Cardinals with seven kills and Quincy Paarsch had a team-best 12 digs.
“Rylie had a good night,” Psalmonds said.
