Local high school volleyballers are nearing the halfway point of the fall season, as Analy and El Molino varsity teams continue to battle for a spot in the league’s upper echelon.
Both teams are coming off a rough patch in the SCL schedule, with the Tigers dropping home and away matches to league powers Petaluma and Sonoma Valley, while the Lions also dropped a three-set match to Sonoma Valley.
This week the Lions (8-7, 3-3) will play the first of two scheduled “Apple” matches at Analy on Sept. 27 (after press time) and visit Healdsburg this Thursday, Sept. 29 (5/6:30 p.m.). The Tigers (5-4, 3-2) will host the Greyhounds next Tuesday, Oct. 4 (5/6:30 p.m.).
Tigers fall to Trojans, Dragons
Analy navigated the toughest part of the schedule last week, beginning with a Sept. 20 meeting with visiting Petaluma. The Tigers gave the Trojans a great battle but did not have enough to stave off a loss in four sets; 24-26, 25-20, 23-25, 11-25.
Statistical leaders for Analy were Ava Ehnes (10 kills), Sophie Holland (8 kills), Claire Rudderow (9 kills, 14 digs), Tori Fitzpatrick (21 digs) and Jalynn Serpa (19 assists).
The Tigers traveled to Sonoma Valley two nights later, falling to the Dragons in straight sets; 21-25, 14-25, 9-25. No stats were available.
Lions burned by Dragons
El Molino also had the unenviable task of taking on unbeaten Sonoma Valley in their lone outing last week, falling to the Dragons in three sets; 2-20, 13-20, 15-25.
Further complicating matters was the fact that the Lions were missing key players including libero Torrie Boles and middle hitter Sasha Senal.
“Torrie will be back this week sophomore Neva Tutus stepped up to play libero for us and did a great job,” El Mo coach Becky Sani reported. “Sonoma has a big powerful outside hotter who can move the kills all around the court, and without all of our players, we had a hard time defending them.”
Pacing the El Mo attack were freshman Kassidy Sani (2 kills, 5 assists, 3 kills), Gabby Bushgen (4 kills, 2 digs) and Neva Titus (13 digs).
