LAKEPORT — After back-to-back high-stress matches against Roseland University Prep and Middletown last week, both going the full five sets, the Clear Lake Cardinals calmly took care of business Tuesday against Lower Lake, winning 25-11, 25-7, 25-10 in North Central League I varsity volleyball action at Lakeport.
It was the first home match for Clear Lake, now 11-2 in league play and 25-3 overall, since Sept. 15 and the Cardinals didn’t disappoint their fans, playing three solid sets against the Trojans, according to head coach Marci Psalmonds.
“It was nice being home again,” Psalmonds said. “I just didn’t want them to play down and we didn’t do that.”
Even though Lower Lake (1-13) entered play tied with Willits for last place in the NCL I standings, Psalmonds said the Cardinals played at a high level throughout the match.
“We didn’t let up,” Psalmonds said of her players. “They played their game.”
Stella Hill’s six kills and six aces led a balanced Clear Lake attack that also featured five kills and 10 digs from Quincy Paarsch, four kills and two blocks from Abby Mertle, three kills by Montana Wells, and 18 assists and eight digs from setter Sierra Bruch.
“We played hard as a team,” Lower Lake head coach Kate Anderson said. “We had a lot of good passes and communication. Their team just moves faster.”
Anderson said Madalynn Chernoh’s play at the net, Katlyn Rosales’ passing and Brooke Benson’s serving were strengths for the Trojans.
“Their crowd was very loud and it did get into our heads,” Anderson said of Clear Lake’s vocal student section.
Clear Lake’s final three league matches all figure to be more up tempo as the Cardinals prepare for postseason competition. Clear Lake is home Thursday against archrival Kelseyville, always a high-energy match regardless of team records, before hitting the road next Tuesday to take on Fort Bragg. The Cardinals then return home Oct. 20 for their league and regular-season finale against Cloverdale.
Lower Lake travels to Fort Bragg on Thursday and has a bye next Tuesday before closing out league play on Oct. 20 at home against St. Helena, which will be senior night for the Trojans.
JV match
Clear Lake’s junior varsity team beat Lower Lake 25-11, 25-9 for its second straight league win following a six-match losing streak.
Kaylah Billig’s five kills and five digs and Atiana Patino’s 10 service points, including three aces, and seven digs powered the Cardinals. Evelyn Ceja added 10 points, four of them aces.
Jamiya Lee-Ayers’ hitting led the Trojans.
On Saturday, Clear Lake went 3-0 to win its pool at the Arcata Tournament, defeating St. Bernard of Eureka 26-24, 25-15, South Fork 25-7, 25-18 and Eureka 25-22, 16-25, 15-10. The Cardinals lost to Potter Valley’s varsity squad in the playoffs, the Bearcats winning 25-16, 16-25, 15-13.
Clear Lake put up some solid team stats in pool play, according to head coach Morgan Psalmonds. The Cardinals had 14 kills and nine aces against St. Bernard, 24 aces and seven kills against South Fork, and 24 kills and 11 aces against Eureka.
