Lions and Tigers netters win SCL season openers

West County pride, a perfect record for both teams, and the
inside track toward the league volleyball title will be on the line
tonight when the Lady Lions travel to Analy in a clash of North Bay
titans. Start times beginning with the frosh match are 4/5/6
p.m.
The perennial powers are easily the class of the Sonoma County
League again this season, as demonstrated by a pair of decisive
wins in their league openers last week.
El Molino (8-0, 2-0) opened the league campaign with what could
have been a tough road match against a much-improved Petaluma
contingent. But the Lions¹ veteran-laden squad, led by senior
outside hitters Marianne and Kathleen Fox, along with starters
Reanne Remlinger, Arianne Cruckshank, and Kelsey McMahan, setter
Holly Fong and libero Chrissy Teeter, proved too much for the
Trojans.
The Lady Lions won game one behind a hot-service game from
Marianne Fox, who recorded five aces to power her team to a 25-15
win. El Mo won game two, 25-18 and emptied its bench to win game
three, 25-7.
On Thursday, the Lions defeated SCL dark horse contender Sonoma
in three; 25-21, 25-19, 25-12. The Fox sisters combined for 19
kills in the match.
The two-time defending SCL champion Lady Tigers (6-0, 2-0)
opened the league campaign on Tuesday at Casa Grande, breezing to a
three-game win; 25-13, 25-10, 25-22. The Tigers got a tremendous
performance from senior MVP setter Lauren Martin, who notched 36
assists on the night. Senior all-league outside hitter Lindsay
Lytle had a big night with a .460 hitting percentage.
On Thursday, Analy dominated visiting Petaluma; 25-18, 25-18,
25-16. The Tigers rode the hot hand of Lytle in game one, as the
powerful lefty had five kills, while Niki Lane and Martin recorded
three apiece. The Tigers continued to flex their muscles in game
two, rattling off nine straight points to take a commanding, 10-2
lead. Analy made wholesale lineup changes in game three, but still
coasted to an easy win.
Leading the way for the Tigers were Martin (8 kills, 21
assists), Lytle (7 kills), Lane (6 kills), outside hitter Keala
Peterson (5 kills) and libero Diana Gustafson (2.5 proficiency
passing).