ARCATA — Serving for the match against Arcata, you can imagine the reaction of Fort Bragg High School volleyball head coach Kim Mertle when her server was called for a five-second delay of game penalty during the Timberwolves’ first-round North Coast Section Division 4 playoff match Wednesday night in Arcata.
The penalty resulted in a point for Arcata that tied the score at 24-all in the third set, and the No. 8-seeded Tigers went on to win 26-24. They also won the fourth set 25-20 before No. 9 seed Fort Bragg pulled it out by taking the fifth and deciding set for a 25-21, 25-20, 24-26, 20-25, 15-8 victory.
The runner-up in the North Central League I this season with a 14-2 record, the Timberwolves move on to the quarterfinals Saturday when they play No. 1 seed Cardinal Newman at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa at 7 p.m. If the Timberwolves upset the top-seeded Cardinals to reach the sectional semifinals they’re guaranteed a berth in the upcoming NorCal playoffs. Even if they lose, their overall record (22-7 after beating Arcata) might earn them a NorCal berth.
“That took the wind right out of our sails,” Mertle said of the timing of the delay of game call, which she didn’t agree with.
It took another set for the Timberwolves to regain their momentum, which was greatly aided by the defensive prowess of seniors Jacie Clavelle and Lucy Hendricks.
“My two seniors didn’t let a ball hit the ground,” Mertle said. “Their hustle was unmatched.”
Carmen Velazquez also made a major contribution in the five-set win by recording 13 kills, 11 assists and 20 digs. Clavelle finished with 25 digs and 25 assists.
“This was a team win for sure,” Mertle said. “They played their hearts out to get the win. We had everyone step up at moments and really came together. In the end when it mattered they came through.”
Also on Wednesday night, undefeated NCL I champion Roseland University Prep of Santa Rosa, the No. 7 seed, beat No. 10 St. Patrick-St. Vincent of Vallejo 25-20, 25-11, 23-25, 26-24. RUP advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal round and will play No. 2 seed Marin Academy.
The third-place finisher in the NCL I this season, the Clear Lake Cardinals, play in the Division 5 quarterfinals Saturday night at home against the Urban Blues of San Francisco at 7 p.m. Clear Lake is the third seed in the Division 5 field and Urban the sixth seed.
