Both teams start the second half of league schedule this week
The Lions and Tigers wrapped up the first lap around their respective league divisions last week, both weathering losses to tough opponents.
The Tigers (3-3, 10-10) suffered a pair of four-game setbacks to Santa Rosa and Cardinal Newman in the Oak Division, while the Lions (4-2, 15-8) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten in the Redwood Division with five- and four-set losses to Piner and Rancho Cotate.
“It was a rough week for El Molino volleyball,” coach Becky Sani reported, citing several key players missing due to injury and illness. “I was very surprised that my team couldn’t pull it together to make the wins happen.”
El Molino will be back on the court with matches at Ukiah (Oct. 9, after press time) and home versus Healdsburg on Oct. 11. Varsity matches start at 6 p.m.
Analy was preparing to open the second half of league against visiting Maria Carrillo on Oct. 9, followed by an Oct. 11 trip to Windsor. Match times starting with the frosh are 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Tigers fall to Panthers
Analy opened its latest string of matches with an Oct. 2 clash with unbeaten Santa Rosa, playing the Panthers tough before falling in four sets: 25-23, 21-25, 13-25, 18-25.
Statistical leaders for the Tigers were Bella Puget (10 kills), Sara Davidson (15 digs) and Maddie Windsor (22 assists).
Things didn’t get much easier two nights later against visiting Cardinal Newman, with the Tigers falling to the Cardinals 25-19, 17-25, 11-25, 25-27.
Claire Rudderow paced the attack with 14 kills and 19 digs. Other top scorers were Jalynn Serpa (11 kills, 19 digs), Puget (9 kills), Windsor (16 digs, 28 assists) and Bree Scott (22 digs).
Lions fall from first
El Mo began the week atop the NBL Redwood division and unbeaten in league play, but began a fall into second, beginning with a frustrating five-set loss to Piner: 14-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 14-16.
It was a tough night without junior outside hitter Kassidy Sani, who was sidelined due to illness.
“We were lost at home against Piner,” coach Becky Sani said. “There was no true leader that stepped up and had a voice, and we were lost in serve receive, making our passing very bad, which meant we couldn’t run any defense.”
Pacing the Lions were Sasha Senal (22 kills), Yasmin Sierra (3 aces, 14 kills, 8 digs), Grace Anderson (2 aces, 13 digs), Brooklynn Hayes (5 kills, 5 digs) and Grace McCormick (4 kills, 11 digs, 41 assists).
El Mo paid Rancho Cotate a visit on Oct. 4, falling in four sets: 16-25, 17-25, 25-22, 24-26.
“We won one set but never found our rhythm,” Sani noted. “When you play on the defensive side of the game and never bring your offense, it’s hard to win.”
