Lions and Tiger volleyballers notch league wins

It’s getting down to crunch time for West County high school volleyball teams, as Analy and El Molino make a final push for a spot in the postseason.
At press time the Tigers (6-2, 8-4) were locked in a tie with Petaluma for second place in the Sonoma County League, two games back of unbeaten Sonoma Valley with four matches remaining. Analy will start the final phase of the regular season this week with dates against Elsie Allen (Oct. 11), followed by a critical road match at Petaluma (Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.). The Tigers will host Sonoma next Tuesday, Oct. 18 (6:30 p.m.) and wrap up the schedule at El Molino on Oct. 20 (6:30 p.m.).
Meanwhile, the Lions (4-5, 10-9) began play this week in fifth place, just a half game back of Healdsburg, with a remaining home match against Petaluma (Oct. 11), followed by a Thursday, Oct. 13 road trip to Sonoma (6:30 p.m.). The Lions will finish league with a home date against Analy on Oct. 20 (6:30 p.m.).
Tigers turn back Hounds, Prospectors  
Analy opened their recent stretch of matches in an Oct. 4 home date against Healdsburg, controlling the flow of play most of the way en route to a win in straight sets; 25-17, 25-18, 25-16.
Statistical leaders for the Tigers were Julia Bachteal (9 kills), Claire Rudderow (6 kills, 12 digs) and Jalynn Serpa (16 assists).
It was more of the same two nights later at Piner, easily dispatching the Prospectors in three; 25-6, 26-24, 25-13. Standout efforts were had by Sophie Holland (8 kills), Ava Ehnes (8 kills) and Tallulah Kuula (5 aces, 9 digs).
Lions notch wins
El Mo played host to Piner on Oct. 4, playing an outstanding all-around match to best the Prospectors in three sets; 25-16, 25-15, 26-24.
Pacing the Lions attack were Kassidy Sani (9 kills, 13 assists, 5 digs, 1 block), Tiger Berna (6 kills, 3 aces), Gabby Bushgen (2 kills, 15 assists) and Torrie Boles (4 kills, 36 digs).  
On Thursday, the Lions paid a visit to Elsie Allen, easily defeating the Lobos in straight sets; 25-16, 25-17, 25-7. Scoring leaders included Berna (5 kills, 7 digs), Sani (2 aces, 7 kills, 9 assists), Bushgen (3 aces, 3 kills, 14 assists, 5 digs), Sasha Senal (7 kills, 2 blocks) and Boles (35 digs).