Analy, El Mo volleyballers continue winning ways

West County volleyball teams continued their winning ways last
week as the Lions and Tigers each notched wins on the league
circuit.
Tigers topple Healdsburg
The five-time defending SCL champion Tigers opened the league
campaign at home on Sept. 17 against an improved Healdsburg squad,
but the end result was largely the same. Analy pulled out a
well-earned victory in three games; 25-20, 25-23, and 25-18.
Leading the net-attack for the Tigers were Claire Sullivan (14
kills), Kallee Cool (8 kills), and Susannah Kay (14 digs).
Last weekend the Tigers participated in the annual litmus test
also known as the Archbishop Mitty Tournament. The Tigers opened up
against Mitty, the top-ranked high school team in the nation,
falling in three; 7-25, 12-25, and 12-25.
Analy squared off with Mountain View in its second match,
falling in four hard-fought games; 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, and
21-25.
“We were competitive with this team, they were big and good, but
we just couldn’t hang on,” noted Analy coach Nancy Williams.
Top performers for the Tigers were Sullivan (11 kills), Margaret
Barnes (9 kills), and Kay (21 digs).
Analy turned in a flat performance against Campolindo to start
Saturday’s action; dropping the match in three; 17-25, 23-25,
26-28. The Tigers were forced to play without star setter Samantha
Seibert, who was injured in pre-game warm-ups and sat out the rest
of the tournament.
Analy finished up the Mitty tourney in winning fashion, turning
back Ponderosa in a five-game thriller; 16-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18,
15-11. 
“We battled and showed a lot of will against a pretty good team
that had good middle blockers,” noted Williams. “I was very proud
of the girls’ efforts because it is so difficult to come back and
win three in a row after being down by two.”
Leading the way for Analy were Cool (17 kills), Brianna Adviento
(10 kills), Barnes (10 kills, 4 solo blocks, 4 block assists), and
Kay (20 digs).
The Tigers (4-4, 1-0) will host Casa Grande tonight (Sept. 24)
and travel to Petaluma in a league showdown next Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Game times are 4/5/6:30 p.m.
Lions out fast against league foes
League opponents are beginning to take notice of the surprising
Lions, thought to be in a full-blown rebuilding mode prior to the
season.
Under varsity coach Leslie Grassl, El Molino (11-4, 2-0) has
gelled much faster than expected, as evidenced by their first pair
of league victories last week. The Lions opened the SCL campaign
with a dramatic, five-game heart-stopping victory over Healdsburg;
10-25, 26-24, 25-12, 17-25, and 16-14.
Outstanding efforts for the Lions included: Erica Taylor (17
kills), Erica Gutsch (11 kills), Melissa Manni (23 assists), Taylor
Lunardi (20 digs), and Emma Vierra (17 digs).
The ladies entertained a strong Windsor contingent on Thursday,
playing arguably their best match of the season in turning back the
Jags in three; 25-19, 25-17, and 25-12. Leading the attack were:
Siera Taylor (16 kills), Erica Taylor (9 kills, 19 digs), and
Lunardi (19 digs).
“My young team played amazing defense and played their hearts
out,” said Grassl. “Siera Taylor had a great night offensively as
well and was almost unstoppable at the net.”
On Saturday, the Lions played in a tournament in Willits,
finishing a strong second to Ursuline. El Mo went 4-1 in five
matches played, with wins over Willits, Kelseyville, Southern
Trinity and Mendocino.  
The ladies will host Petaluma tonight (Sept. 24), and travel to
Sonoma next Tuesday, Sept. 29. Game times beginning with the frosh
are 4/5/6:30 p.m.