The Tigers retained local high school volleyball bragging rights for at least another year, turning back the visiting Lions in straight sets in their second meeting this season on Sept. 28.
The victory, coupled with a win over Sonoma Valley, kept Analy in the league title hunt with a 6-1 SCL mark and 12-4 on the year. At the start of play this week the Tigers were just one game back of league-leading Petaluma (7-0).
Meanwhile, the Lions, who scored a non-league win over Roseland University Prep, fell to 1-6 in the SCL and 5-11 overall.
Both teams will be back on the court this week, as the Lions host Healdsburg on Oct. 3 (Dig Pink Night) and visit Piner on Thursday, Oct. 5. The Tigers will travel to Healdsburg on Oct. 5 and return home to host Piner on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Analy takes two
The Tigers opened their latest stretch on Sept. 26 against perennial power Sonoma Valley, playing one of their best matches of the season to win in three sets; 25-23, 25-20, 25-21.
Statistical leaders were Ava Ehnes (14 kills, 9 digs), Claire Rudderow (9 kills, 15 digs), and Sabrina Stephens (19 digs).
Analy played host to El Molino on Sept. 28, fighting off a determined Lions squad to post a win in straight sets; 25-12, 25-9, 25-23.
Despite the loss, El Molino coach Becky Sani took away plenty of positives from the match.
“Overall our setters, Grace McCormick and Kassidy Sani shined,” she said. “They’d been working all week in quick sets and they pulled those off during this match. I felt like this was a glimpse into what El Mo volleyball will look like in the future, and it’s exciting,” she added.
Stat leaders for the Tigers were Merritt Taggart (11 kills), Ehnes (11 kills, 2 aces), Maddie Windsor (18 assists, 3 aces), Vivi Vigil (19 digs) and Rudderow (7 kills, 19 digs, 2 aces).
Top players for the Lions included libero Grace Anderson and senior Tiger Berna (29 digs), sophomore Kassidy Sani and Sasha Senal, and freshman Grace McCormick.
The Lions squared off at Roseland University Prep on Sept. 24, scoring a win in three sets; 25-9, 25-14, 25-23.
Pacing the attack were Senal (8 kills, 3 blocks), freshman Yasmin Sierra (4 kills, 6 aces), Berna (8 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks), Kassidy Sani (4 kills, 12 assists, 1 block) and McCormick (5 kills, 7 assists).
