YOUR Acalanes Dons Volleyball team traveled to “The Matadome” on Tuesday AND Wednesday night to face Miramonte in what was likely, technically, the longest Dons volleyball match ever. Read on to learn more about this epic 27-hour battle!
Act One – Tuesday:
First Set:
2-4: Hayes Hollar deep ball kill to get the Dons offense going.
5-6: Point-saving “ups” from Elsa Clever and Cailey McVay and after a long rally Madi Risch pounds a kill to get the Dons back in it.
6-9: Risch Roof!
7-9: Clever Crush?
11-12: Kennedy Cornish delivers a perfect front corner tip winner. Looks like the Mats did not study their film.
12-15: Hollar Hammer!
14-16: Dons hanging around as Risch delivers another big kill.
17-21: Hollar again for a much-needed kill.
20-24: Facing multiple match points and down 18-24, a Risch kill (off a nice Rachel Go set, off a smooth Kaylin Hiatt pass) makes it three in a row for the desperate Dons.
23-24: Mats hit it out long! 6 points in a row from Acalanes! Still match point.
24s: And a Hollar Ace ties it up! 7 straight!
25-24: Hollar Ace again!!! Set point Dons! Timeout Mats but they are in shock.
26-24: Cornish smokes a set winner after a riveting long rally. The bull gets the Matador this time and the Dons win the first set with an incredible comeback!
Second Set:
3-4: Cornish picks up where she left off in the first set with a nice kill.
7-12: Big kill by Risch after a rough patch. Calls and balls not going the Dons way right now.
10-15: Loooooong rally. Dons hustle. Dons prevail.
13-24: Hollar roll shot kill, but the Dons need another miracle come back.
13-25: Nope. Mats take the second set and the lights go out on the Dons. No. Literally. The lights went out in the gym. Loss of power. No more volleyball tonight it seems.
Act Two – Wednesday:
Third Set:
0-5: The teams are back at it after a 24-hour break, the power is restored, and Miramonte looks like they got more sleep perhaps, as Coach Ernie calls a timeout to regroup the troops after a rough start for the Dons.
4-9: Cornish tip — same spot as usual!
5-9: See above. Amazing.
7-11: Risch roller.
7-15: Another rough patch. Timeout Acalanes.
8-15: Big Risch hammer kill. Felt good.
10-17: Clever Ace! Dons need some magic once again like in the first set last night.
12-17: Clever with another Ace.
13-22: Roxy Cummings tools the blocker for a kill.
15-22: Annika Olson bump over a free ball for a kill. Dons will take it.
16-25: Ouchy. Third is done. Dons must win the Fourth to survive the Matadome…
Fourth Set:
1-2: Olson crusher kill.
3s: Risch Ace! Tied up.
5-6: Clever Roof!
6-7: Beauty Go set to Cummings. Roxy kill.
7-8: Risch fires a bullet down the line for a winner.
9-8: Risch high hands kill (off the blocker). Dons are on a nice run…
10-8: …that continues with a Cornish kill. Timeout Mats.
11-9: Hollar kill from the pipe preserves the Dons small lead. What a great match, with Dons firepower facing Mats stellar defense.
14-11: Clever this time. Clutch hit!
15-11: Cummings stuffs an overpass straight down. Yummy! Dons opening up a gap.
16-11: Olson. Nice kill. Timeout Mats.
17-11: McVay Ace! Can the Dons capitalize on this big lead?
19-12: Big Clever kill in the middle gores the Matadors.
20-12: Risch hammers yet another one from the back row.
21-12: Super dig save from Cummings and then Clever wins a joust at the net to score.
22-12: Ball ping-pongs off of McVay and lands on the floor…on the Mats side! Point Dons.
22-16: Timeout Dons to try and stop a suddenly ferocious Miramonte run.
24-17: Set point. Teams trading errors which benefits the Dons at this point.
25-19: Mats hit it long. Dons win the set, and we are going to a fifth and final. Should we play it tomorrow night?
Fifth Set:
2-0: Dons grab an early lead with a Risch Ace!
3s: Cummings kill off the blocker re-ties it.
3-7: Timeout Dons after a frustrating 4-0 Miramonte run. Brick wall defense from the home team.
5-7: Hiatt Ace! Huge! Lead cut in half.
6-7: Super Hiatt dig and then Miramonte “doubles” for a penalty. “You Can’t Do That!” goes the cheer.
7-8: Nice R-Go set. Clever kills it.
8s: Roof!!! C&R Roofing Co. completes the job (Clever and Risch). Tied up!
10-9: Dons take the lead on a Risch hammer rip kill. With authority.
11-9: Clever! Ace! Timeout Mats!
12-11: Risch kill. OMG(oodness) this is exciting. Dons can do this!
14-11: Couple of Miramonte errors and suddenly it’s Match Point! OMG(oodness) timeout Matadors once again.
15-11: Winner winner chicken dinner on the Olson kill! Dons persevere and emerge victorious 3 sets to 2. Who cares how many days it takes…it’s always great to get a League win against such a big rival.
The Dons wrap up League play on Thursday night at Acalanes versus Northgate. It’s Senior Night so come out and cheer for the Dons Seniors!