Dons Volleyball Clips the Hawks, Advances to NCS Final

Do you remember the last time Acalanes Volleyball was in the NCS Final? Probably not…it was 1979.

In order to break the 40 year drought, the Dons needed to get past the Red Tailed Hawks of Tamalpais High. Tam is a talented and well-coached team from the tough Marin County Athletic League. But, Tam had to come to OUR house. Thanks in large part to an incredible showing by Dons Nation, the Lady Dons played very well and took the contest, 3-1.

Game 1 was a playoff-style battle:  2-2 Kennedy Cornish tip
4-4 Cornish ace
6-6 Kylie Wood kill
7-6 Wood block
8-6 Madi Risch tip
9-9 Risch kill down the line
10/9 Sydney Sowarby perfect pass to Webster perfect set to Sauer for kill
11-13 Mackenzie Sauer kill
12-14 Lane Webster with a clever dump
13-14 Risch dig to Webster sets Elliott for kill
14-15 Cornish kill
15-16 Sowarby dig Risch kill
17-17 Sowarby digs in forcing Tam error
18-17 Olivia Elliott ace
19-17 Risch kill
22-19 Webster great set Risch kill
23-20 Sauer kill
25-21 Dons win!

The Dons blitzed Tam in Game 2:
1-0 Webster ace
3-2 after good hustle dig by Elliott
5-3 Risch kill
6-3 Risch tip
9-4 Elliott kill
10-4 Risch kill
12-7 Webster kill
13-7 Webster dump
15-7 Sowarby ace
16-7 Webster dispenses with the overpass
17-7 Sowarby ace
18-7 Risch back row kill
19/7 Cornish kill through block
20-8 Webster great cross court set to Cornish kill
21-9 Risch monster kill after w
23-10 Elliott kill through block
25-11 Elliott kill through block for win

Tam showed some heart and battled back in Game 3:
4-4 Cornish ace
5-4 Elliott through block
6-5 Risch kill
7-6 Risch tip
9-7 Annika Olson kill through block
10-9 Cornish kill
11-10 Elliott
12-10 Olson ace
15-14 Risch tip
18-18 Elliott kill
20-25 

Up two games to one, the Dons started off quickly in Game 4, and showed incredible serving and defense:

3-0 Webster ace
5-3 Cornish kill
6-5 Cornish kill
7-7 Wood kill
9-7 Risch kill
10-7 Kaylin Hiatt ace
12-8 Risch ace
13-8 Tam error
Timeout Tam
14-8 Sowarby diving dig, Sauer kill
15-10 Wood kill
16-12 Cornish kill
17-12 Cornish tip
18-14 Erin Meade tip
19-14 Risch kill
20-14 Meade kill
21-15 Risch kill
22-16 great dig by Meade, Risch tip for point
23-16 Hiatt ace
24-16 Hiatt ace
25-21 Risch kill for the win!!!

The Dons now advance to the NCS finals against top seed Branson on Saturday, November 9, at 4:00 p.m. at the College of Marin.  Branson defeated the Dons 3-0 earlier this season, so this will be a very stiff test. Come over and support the YOUR DONS!

Bracket: http://www.cifncs.org/sports/volleyball/Volleyball_Results_History/2019/VBgDiv3bracket.pdf