LAKEPORT >> Less than 24 hours after sweeping Cloverdale in three straight sets, the Clear Lake Cardinals were back on the volleyball court Wednesday night beating the Lower Lake Trojans 25-6, 25-16, 25-7 in North Central League I varsity action at Lakeport.
Clear Lake is now to 6-1 in league play. The Cardinals play three times next week, including a makeup match Wednesday at Fort Bragg (5-1) that was postponed from Sept. 16. Clear Lake also hosts Willits on Tuesday and visits St. Helena on Sept. 30.
Lower Lake (0-4), its season delayed twice by COVID-19 outbreaks, plays one more match this week — Thursday at Middletown — and has three matches next week as well — Monday at home against Middletown, Tuesday at home against Kelseyville and Sept. 30 at home against Cloverdale.
The Cardinals didn’t spend much time on the court with the Trojans, but they made the most of it in the stats department.
“Any chances we’re getting we’re putting them away,” Clear Lake head coach Marci Psalmonds said of the play of her front-line hitters.
Sophomore Camrin Pivniska, promoted from the junior varsity squad and now a permanent fixture with the varsity club, led the way with 11 kills while Abby Mertle and Zoey Pepper added six apiece.
Psalmonds let her subs play the second set before switching back to her starters in the third set.
“We’re playing really well right now and I hope it sticks,” Psalmonds said with an eye toward next week’s big match in Fort Bragg.
Sydney Howe led the Cardinals with eight aces, six of them coming in the first set when she served 18 straight points.
“She was serving them short, deep, really mixing it up,” Psalmonds said of Howe’s aces.
Howe also had a team-best 16 assists.
Clear Lake’s back row defense also excelled behind the play of Cady Harmon and libero Raina Clifton.
JV match
Clear Lake also won the junior varsity match 25-9, 25-14 behind three kills each from Maddy Brewster, Kaylah Gillig and Rylie Andrews. Brewster also had 16 service points, including four aces.
“Everybody got it and played a lot,” Clear Lake head coach Morgan Psalmonds said. “Our younger players actually did a pretty good job.”
Clear Lake is 5-2 in league play.
