SANTA ROSA — The Clear Lake Cardinals gave Roseland University Prep all it could want in the first two sets, but the Knights ended up sweeping the North Central League I varsity volleyball match 25-21, 25-17, 25-11 on Wednesday evening in Santa Rosa.
RUP, the newest member of the NCL I, is making a good first impression as the Knights improved to a league-best 4-0 while handing Clear Lake (2-1) its first league loss. RUP and Fort Bragg (3-0) are the only undefeated teams left in the NCL I standings.
“They’re totally beatable,” Clear Lake head coach Marci Psalmonds said. “We played great for two games, stayed right with them, but our serve receive fell apart in the third game and we just tanked.”
The difference between the two teams on Wednesday were Clear Lake’s 19 hitting errors.
“We were attacking, we knew we head to be aggressive because they play great defense, but that’s too many errors,” Psalmonds said.
It wasn’t a big stats night for the Cardinals. Abby Mertle led the way with six kills, Zoey Pepper finished with five, and Raina Clifton had another solid night with 26 digs.
“She was on fire,” Psalmonds said of Clifton.
The teams meet again Oct. 5 in Lakeport and Psalmonds said the Cardinals will be ready.
In junior varsity action, RUP breezed to an easy win in the first set but had a fight on its hands after that, finally beating Clear Lake 25-11, 20-25, 15-11.
Bad passing doomed the Cardinals in the opening set, according to head coach Morgan Psalmonds, but her players picked up their game in sets two and three, creating a number of long rallies.
“We lost as a team,” Psalmonds said. “I would rather that happen than win as a bunch of individuals.”
Rubi Ford led the Cardinals with six kills. Camrin Pivniska added three kills and 14 digs while Quincy Paarsch had 12 digs. Another standout was Maddy Brewster with six service points and eight digs.
It was the first league loss for the Cardinals (2-1).
“I think they’ll be a benefit to our league,” Psalmonds said of the Knights, who are competing in the NCL I for the first time.
