LAKEPORT — A three-set match felt more like five to the Clear Lake Cardinals after a 25-23, 25-21, 25-14 loss to undefeated North Central League I leader Roseland University Prep on Wednesday evening at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport.
Clear Lake (8-3) needed a win to keep its title hopes alive but RUP (11-0), a charter school out of Santa Rosa that joined the NCL I this season, pretty much took care of that. The Knights now hold a three-game lead over the Cardinals with five matches remaining. Fort Bragg (10-1) still has a shot at catching RUP as the two teams play Tuesday in Fort Bragg.
“They could beat RUP,” Clear Lake head coach Marci Psalmonds said of the Timberwolves. “They could do it.”
While the match went the minimum three sets, the two teams engaged in some long, long rallies. Clear Lake simply didn’t win enough of them.
“Crazy long rallies,” Psalmonds said.
Clear Lake had 166 arm swings in those three sets, but RUP’s defense was up to the task, and so was Clear Lake’s defense during the first two sets.
“We played great the first two games, we were right there with them,” Psalmonds said. “Then the wheels fell off.”
Reminiscent of the old Anderson Valley teams that frustrated opponents with long rallies and waited for their opponents to make the mistake, the Knights used the same strategy against the Cardinals.
“We had some super long rallies,” Psalmonds said.
With five matches remaining, including one at home against Fort Bragg on Oct. 19, the Cardinals are hoping for a strong finish before entering the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs as an at-large team. At least they won’t have to face RUP, a Division 4 team.
“I’m happy we’re not going to see them in the playoffs,” Psalmonds said. “I think we could do well in the playoffs. If we play like we did in the first two games (against RUP) we’ll be fine.”
Clear Lake libero Raina Clifton anchored the defense with 32 digs while middle hitters Abby Mertle (six kills, five blocks) and Montana Wells (three kills, three blocks) held their own up front, according to Psalmonds. Camrin Pivniska added seven kills and Zoey Pepper had six.
Setters Sierra Bruch and Sydney Howe finished with 12 and 11 assists, respectively.
In junior varsity action Wednesday, RUP defeated Clear Lake 25-23, 25-15 despite the best efforts of Clear Lake’s Rubi Ford, who led the Cardinals with 10 kills.
“Rubi Ford was on fire tonight at the net,” Clear Lake head coach Morgan Psalmonds said.
Ford also had five digs and an ace.
The two teams engaged in some long rallies as evidenced by Clear Lake’s 51 team digs. Twenty of those digs went to libero Quincy Paarsch.
“She did phenomenal,” Psalmonds said.
Clear Lake’s teams are home again Thursday to play Middletown. JV action starts at 5 p.m.
