MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Mustangs haven’t had much luck against the Cloverdale Eagles in volleyball for years … unless you’re counting bad luck. That all changed Tuesday night.
Behind a strong all-around game from setter Ella Sust, who had a big night at the service line, the Mustangs rallied from a set down to beat the Eagles 18-25, 25-19, 25-24, 25-16 in a North Central League I varsity volleyball match at Middletown High School. The varsity’s win completed a sweep for the Mustangs, who also won the junior varsity match 25-22, 25-19.
“It’s a long time coming,” Middletown head coach Vanessa Davis said. “It feels good to beat Cloverdale.”
Both teams brought 3-2 league records into the match, one that Sust played a major role in the outcome.
“Her serving in the second set changed the match,” Davis said of the senior, who finished the night with 19 service points, two of them aces, as well as 13 assists.
Middletown got another big lift from senior outside hitter Skylar Williams, who also had 19 service points as well as seven kills and four aces.
“Her serving was on fire … she didn’t miss a serve,” Davis said.
Also doing their part were Mustangs Cora Holley with a season-high seven kills and Jaidyn Brown, the team’s senior libero, with 34 digs, 14 points, two aces and one kill.
“After the first set I thought I was going to be in for a long night,” Davis said. “By the fourth set we were putting it to them pretty good.”
In the JV match, Middletown’s top players were Harley Holley, Evelyn Finney, Carly Johnson and Taylor Thompson, according to head coach Erika Galvan. Harley led the team with three kills.
“Everybody got a chance to play and to be successful,” Galvan said. “The girls played really, really hard.”
In other NCL I action Tuesday:
Fort Bragg def. Lower Lake
At Lower Lake, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves improved to 6-1 in the league standings with a 25-5, 25-7, 25-9 win over the Lower Lake Trojans (0-6).
Maddie Triplett had a team-leading nine kills while Lemara Hendricks added seven more. Carmen Velazquez led the Timberwolves with 10 aces and 15 assists.
For Lower Lake, Madalynn Chernoh’s hitting (four kills) and Avery Adamcyk’s setting led the way.
