Tuesday the Dons travelled out to Northgate for a makeup game against the Broncos. The Broncos got out to a 2 point lead but Elena Needs got it back with a line kill, Annika Olson got a kill off the tape and then Annika and Katelyn Olin teamed up for a roof to get the lead back 4-2. A Bronco run to 5-8 was ended by an Olson kill off her own pass but Northgate got the serve back and ran it up to 6-17. The teams traded points including a crafty Erin Meade front row setter kill but the Dons couldn’t really close the gap. Lauren Davis added a nice tight angle kill late but the first set ended 11-25.
The second set started with an Olin kill off a nice 1 from Aisha Mohanty that was followed by a Annika kill off the block and an ace from Katelyn. Annika got another kill to make it 4-3 and Meade followed with an ace. Northgate got to an 5-8 lead again but Elena got it back with a drive to the back line. Elena drilled another one to make it 7-10 and then Katelyn got a huge solo block to get it back 8-12. It was a back and forth match from there with some nice kills from Maya Paul and Annika to keep the Dons in it 16-17. Tate Huisingh rung up an angle and Annika recorded 2 aces to take an 19-18 lead. It was a tight match with libero Sydney Sowarby racking up some nice digs and then an Olin hammer made it 21-20 and she got another roof to make it 22-21. Lauren ripped a perfect set from Aisha down the line to make it 23-21 then Elena converted a pipe and Annika hit back line to take the second set 25-22 for a huge turnaround.
The third set began with a Davis/Olin roof and Mohanty ace for a 2-0 lead. Katelyn put the clamps on again for a 4-3 lead as the match remained tight. Annika hit off and around blocks to push it to 6-4 and a Tate kill made it 7-4 as the Don defense tightened up. A tough serving run allowed Northgate to take the lead 7-8 but a long point with some great Sowarby/Needs defense helped the Dons take a 10-9 lead. An offspeed spot to the middle from Tate and a Sowarby ace pushed it to 12-10. The Broncos retook the lead 13-17 with some excellent defense before a nice Needs tip got a Dons side out. A tense few points with Meade serving got it to 18-19 before Northgate got it back and ran it to 22-19. The Dons fought back with Olson serving and a nice Maya kill off the block mixed in. They traded points to make it 23-23 and a sweet lefty tip from Elena made it 24-23 Dons. Sadly the Broncos got it back and ran it out 26-24.
The pre-pandemic rules kicked in and the match moved to 4th set. Needs opened with another dig and kill and a Davis tip made it 3-1. Things continued to break the Dons way out to 9-5 culminating in a Tate line hit. Annika pushed it to 12-7 with a line kill then a deep angle. A nice Aisha 5 to a Lauren kill made it 13-8 but the Broncos dug it back all the way to 15-18 before the Dons got it back with a Tate left side tool and kept it rolling with another hard Elena kill. Unfortunately the Broncos kept the momentum taking the set and the match 25-16.
Paul Sauer Pics:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rinSBrwc4YZMvdh1A
The Dons play tonight at Miramonte, then back home Thursday for Senior Night against Las Lomas. GO DONS