MIDDLETOWN — A young team that has struggled to finish off opponents this season finally did it Thursday night, even if took five sets to complete the job.
Kelseyville won each of the first two set before Middletown battled back to tie the best-of-five match, but the visiting Knights rallied for a marathon 25-16, 26-24, 15-25, 15-25, 17-15 victory in North Central League I varsity volleyball action at The Barn.
“They played a good game, it was a little stressful but they kept their heads up,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said as the Knights (4-9) upset the Mustangs (8-5) on their home floor. “They were able to finish it tonight.”
Middletown suited up only eight players and was missing a key starter in outside hitter Kamryn Atkins, who was away on a trip, according to head coach Vanessa Davis. Another starter, sophomore Mia Hoogendoorn, did play after the first set but is still less than 100 percent following a week-long illness. With few options, Davis moved one of her two setters, Parker Wink, to the front row and said she responded as well as could be expected given her unfamiliarity with that role.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Davis said of Atkins’ decision to miss the match. “The coach and the other players put so much time into being here.”
Minus Atkins and with Hoogendoorn not completely back to her normal self, the Mustangs struggled from the outset and never were in sync, even in the sets they won, according to Davis.
“We didn’t show up the first two sets. I don’t know where we were, there was a lot of unfocused volleyball being played. Not having Kam was huge for us. We were completely disjointed.”
Added Davis, “Even our players who were there should have played better tonight. Kelseyville came out swinging from the start.”
The Knights trailed by as many as five points in the fifth and deciding set before rallying for the 17-15 win, Nyejzniya Krohn registering the kill on match point, one of her eight kills on the night.
Sophomore Olivia Hommer led the way for the Knights with 16 kills and 18 digs while libero Cali Schnabl (29 digs, four aces) and setting Jayden Paulich (24 assists) were instrumental in the victory. Kelseyville also received solid play from Maddy Madrzyk, according to McCallister.
“Cali did a great job,” McCallister said. “She passed like nails.”
Middle hitter Cora Holley’s 11 kills and four blocks led the Mustangs while Camille Schaffer added seve kills, two blocks, seven digs, seven points and three aces.
“Both of my middles had a good night,” Davis said. “Cora had only one hitting error.”
Wink, normally a setter or defensive specialist, finished with two kills, 19 assists, 13 points and four aces, and setter Ella Sust added 14 assists, 17 points, six kills and five aces.
Middletown and Kelseyville are both on the road Thursday. The Mustangs travel to Cloverdale while the Knights play Clear Lake in Lakeport.
Junior varsity
Middletown won the JV match 25-16, 24-26, 15-6 behind a big hitting night from Carly Johnson, who had 10 kills on only 17 arm swings.
“She was awesome,” Middletown head coach Erika Galvan said. “She totally stepped it up tonight.”
Harley Holley added another seven kills.
Galvan also praised the setting of Diana Montes and the passing and serving of Evelyn Finney, who served eight straight points in the third and deciding set.
“She definitely fueled us in that third set,” Galvan said of Finney.
In other NCL I volleyball action Tuesday:
RUP def. Fort Bragg
At Santa Rosa, undefeated NCL I leader Roseland University Prep (RUP) won the first two sets but needed five sets to subdue the visiting Fort Bragg Timberwolves, 25-21, 25-13, 23-25, 20-25, 15-10. The Knights (14-0) clinched no worse than a share of the league title with their victory.
Lemara Hendricks’ 13 kills powered the Timberwolves (10-4). Maddie Triplett added nine kills and 17 digs while Sonja Ivankay had nine kills and four blocks.
“The girls played their hearts out,” Fort Bragg head coach Kimberly Mertle said. “With only seven girls they did great.”
Fort Bragg registered 75 digs.
“It was a great defensive match,” Mertle said.
RUP also won the JV match, 25-20, 25-13.
