Volleyballers post wins in pre-season finales

Analy and El Molino volleyball teams continued preparation for
the upcoming league season, playing a flurry of matches on the
pre-season circuit.
The Lions pushed their pre-season record to 5-3 with a busy week
that included participation in Saturday’s Top of the Bay Tournament
hosted by Piner in Santa Rosa.
El Mo began the week with a hard-fought win over visiting
Montgomery on Sept. 9, turning back the Vikings in four games;
17-25, 25-20, 25-16, and 31-29.
Leading the net-attack for El Molino were: junior outside hitter
Emma Vierra (12 kills), sophomore OH Erica Gutsch (11 kills), and
junior OH Siera Taylor (10 kills). Sophomore libero Taylor Lunardi
had a great night on defense with 37 digs.
The ladies played a total of five matches at the Piner tourney,
going 2-3 against some play-off caliber teams.
Overall, Lions coach Leslie Grassl is pleased with the direction
her young team is taking.
“We played well against some tough competition but need to work
on playing at that level all the time,” she said. “They have come a
long way but still have a long way to go.”
El Molino will kick off the league campaign this week with
matches against Healdsburg (Sept. 15 after press time), and tonight
(Thursday, Sept. 17) against Windsor. The Lions will play in a
tournament in Willits this weekend, and travel to Casa Grande next
Tuesday, Sept. 22. Game times starting with the frosh are 4/5/6:30
p.m.
Tigers notch wins
The defending champion Analy Tigers opened the fall season in
impressive fashion, defeating a strong host Maria Carrillo squad in
four; 25-12, 19-25, and 25-18, 26-24. Top performers for the Tigers
included: Kallee Cool (17 kills, .421 hitting percentage and 6
digs), and Marla Petrucci (11 kills, .360 hitting percentage).
Analy (2-1) fell to a surprising Napa team in its second match
of the week in four games; 18-25, 25-16, 16-25, and 18-25. Senior
Margaret Barnes led the team with six kills and a .357 hitting
percentage.
The Tigers finished up pre-league play against visiting Ukiah on
Friday, winning in three straight; 25-12, 25-19, and 25-15. Top
scorers for Analy were: Barnes (6 kills, .600), Briana Adviento (5
kills, .556), Petrucci (15 kills, .500), and Susannah Kay (2.2
passing efficiency out of 3.0) and 12 digs).
Analy will begin its quest for a six-peat for the SCL title
tonight (Thursday, Sept. 17, 4/5/6:30 p.m.) against visiting
Healdsburg. The Tigers will play in the Archbishop Mitty Tournament
this weekend, and resume league action at Windsor next Tuesday,
Sept. 22.