MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Mustangs went down to the wire to pull out a 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12 victory over the St. Helena Saints in North Central League I varsity volleyball action Tuesday night in Middletown.
Middletown (4-7) scored the final three points of a back-and-forth fifth set during which the two teams were never separated by more than two points until match point. St. Helena pulled ahead 11-10 at one point, but the Mustangs battled back to win it.
“I’m really proud of my team, it was a great match,” Middletown head coach Vanessa Davis said. “We demonstrated we can finish as a team and that we can win these close games.”
Senior libero Gracie Wagner served the final two points in the fifth set after St. Helena called a timeout trailing 13-12. Wagner’s serve on match point was nearly an ace.
“She’s a great leader on the court,” Davis said of Wagner, who finished the match with 12 service points overall, four of them in the fifth set, and three aces.
Set three was a turning point for the Mustangs, according to Davis, and Becca Graham came through in a big way at the service line by scoring seven straight points. She finished the match with 13 service points and three aces.
Middletown’s junior middle hitters played a significant role in the marathon victory, according to Davis. Camille Schaffer led the way with seven kills and four blocks while Kamryn Atkins added six kills and two blocks.
Two other Mustangs — Alley Brown and Lara Patterson — finished with six kills apiece.
“Alley has improved so much this season,” Davis said. “She’s such a smart player.”
Patterson also had six digs for the Mustangs.
“It was her best match of the season,” Davis said.
St. Helena won the junior varsity match in two sets (scores not reported).
Middletown’s teams hit the road Thursday to play Clear Lake in Lakeport.
In other volleyball action Tuesday:
Fort Bragg def. Cloverdale
At Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves won their 10th league match, sweeping the Cloverdale Eagles 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 in NCL I action.
Carmen Velazquez led Fort Bragg (10-1) with eight kills, 14 digs and eight assists.
“Carmen had a great game,” Fort Bragg head coach Kim Mertle said of her sophomore setter/middle hitter. “She’s been timid, but she’s starting to play to her potential.”
Velasquez also led the Timberwolves with four aces.
Lucy Hendricks added eight kills and a team-best 24 digs.
The loss dropped Cloverdale to 6-6 in league play.
Cloverdale won the JV match 27-25, 17-25, 15-9.
Fort Bragg’s teams are back in action Thursday at Willits.
Upper Lake def. Calistoga
At Calistoga, after dropping the first set to the host Calistoga Wildcats, the Upper Lake Cougars rallied for a hard-fought 20-25, 25-15, 27-25, 25-23 victory in NCL II play.
Zoey Petrie and Madison Noble contributed 11 kills apiece for the Cougars, who improved to 7-1 in the league standings. Petrie also had 11 service points and 14 assists while Noble had 10 assists. Taylar Minnis finished with 11 service points.
Upper Lake also won the JV match 25-19, 25-12.
Kyliah Wipple served five aces while Treasure Hodges added three aces, three kills and two blocks. Jordann Gudmundson led the Cougars with four kills and Angelina Rivera had two kills.
“They played good on the net with some good swings and blocks,” Upper Lake head coach Fawn Rave said.
Upper Lake travels to Rohnert Park on Thursday to play Technology.
