Your Dons traveled to Orinda for their last road match of the season on Wednesday. The Matadome was rocking on Senior Night for the Mats. The Dons were looking for a little bit of revenge after dropping one to Miramonte in the opening week of the season. Here we go.
In set one, Katelyn Olin helped create the tone with a quick pound that made it 3-2 Dons. Annika Olson then announced her presence with a huge hammer off a bump set from Erin Meade that kept the Acalanes lead, 6-5. Annika whacked another one right away, then Ally Kirke shot one through the Mats defense from her middle position, 8-6. Kira Wood came in to serve and delivered a crafty ace. An athletic move from Elena Needs kept a ball alive for the Dons offense, and she then powered a kill to take the point, 11-7. Lauren Davis joined the party with a topspin bullet to the back line, 13-10. The Mats then found their rhythm and tied it 15 all. Lauren rattled the Matadome with a big kill to make it 16-15. The teams traded points to get to 18-18. Daisy Sibley aced ‘em up, and Lauren made a great save to get the Dons to 22-20. Elena powered another one through the block, and Annika smashed a cross-court winner to make it 24-22, Time Out Mats! Well, it worked, 24-24, then 24-25, set point Mats! Katelyn Olin just would not have that happen, so she spiked one to the floor, 25s. Ally Kirke then roofed their middle, 26-25. The Mats got one back, 26s, then made a couple of mistakes, and the set ended 27-25 Dons on a double hit by the Mats setter (which is a no-no). We’ll take it. The Dons go up 1-0, heading into set 2.
Lauren Davis started things off with a cross-court kill, followed by an Olson blast through the block, then a roof by Katelyn, getting the Dons out early, 3-0. Ally Kirke then made a nice up while covering the opponent’s block, which led to a Annika kill. Annika was now feeling it, with a loud shot through the pipe and crushing point off an overpass. The Mats answered with some tough serving and offense of their own, getting the advantage back, 7-8. Tate Huisingh hit one down the line to get the Dons to 9-10, then Aisha Mohanty delivered an ace and the lead, 12-11. The Mats were not going quietly, and staged a big rally, taking the lead, 12-16. Consecutive back row kills by Elena Needs helped the Dons get to 14-17, and after a nice tip from Ally and a line shot from Annika, we were back to 17-18. After a Tate Huisingh winner from the right side, the Dons were still down 20-22. Elena pitched in with a spike, but the Mats were not to be denied, 21-25 final.
Set three, and it’s getting late, so this will be it! Katelyn blocks not one, but two attempts by the Mats, 1-0, and the Dons are pumped. Calm down girls, 5 straight from Mats, time out us. Back on the floor, ace by Elena, Olin smash off a pass, Ally down the pipe, 6-7! Ally Kirke is a PROBLEM for the Mats’ hitters, big block, 8-7 Dons! Annika bangs one off the floor to ignite the bench, 9-8. The Mats try to come back with their top senior at the service line, but Annika runs the ‘tie my shoe‘ play, and it goes into the net! Smart girls win. Ally blocks another one, 10-9. Elena says ‘to heck with my manicure’ and tips two in a row over the Matador block…ole’! Daisy Sibley with a sweet service return to get the Dons in system and in the scoring column, again. Erin and Katelyn combine for a little twist play and the Mats are flummoxed, 15-11 Dons, time out them! This team is now firing on all cylinders, and it’s a pleasure to watch. Lauren solo block, 16-11. Elena aces them off the tape, 18-13. Sydney Sowarby flies into the breech, making a spectacular save and leading to a Lauren Davis monster jam. 20-13, time out Mats again! DONS FANS ROCKING. Time in…and Katelyn puts one down, with authority (and a nice hug from her teammates)…22-13. Close the deal Lauren! OK…smacked through the block, 25-15 Dons!
A great win for the girls, and they are right back at it tonight. Its Senior Night! Ceremony at 6:45pm for our ELEVEN Seniors, then the final match of the year vs Las Lomas. Tune in for all of it on YouTube, search Alan Go-Acalanes for live stream. GO DONS!
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