On Thursday, May 20, the JV Women’s Volleyball team split sets with the Campolindo Cougars 15-25, 25-18 but barely lost on overall points in a near repeat of their season-opener where they beat Campolindo. Even though the Dons played the Cougs on their home court in Moraga, the Acalanes parents brought on enough noise in the stands to simulate the Dons’ home court environment.

The Dons opened the first set with an ace by Mara Korzenoiwska and two kills by Maddie Bacon, but Campo gradually widened their lead as the Dons struggled with their serve receive and made uncharacteristic unforced errors. The Dons were down 5-16 until serves by Lyanne Wang helped the Dons put some points on the board. The Cougs successfully blocked several attacks by the Dons, until Ava Bunton handed them a kill and a tip, but the Dons remained down 10-18. The Dons were able to close the gap a bit with several kills from Hanna Hageboeck followed by a great dig from Sofie Foster. The Dons kept fighting to the end, including a few great rallies, a one-handed save by Kylie Choi, and a tip by Marissa Hill at set point, but the Cougs still won the set 15-25.

In the second set, the Dons regrouped and started strong with an ace and tip by Mara Korzeniowska. This was followed by a kill from Sofie Foster and dump to the back court by Mara Korzeniowska, giving the Dons a slight lead at 4-3. The Dons and Cougs were neck and neck for the first half of the set, thanks to kills by Hanna Hageboeck and a pick-up off of a Cougs block by Kylie Choi that led to a kill from Ryann Jones tying the score at 10-10. The Dons gradually grew their lead after a kill from Maddie Bacon, a block by Sofie Foster and a dig from Lyanne Wang that ended in a kill by Hanna Hageboeck to make the score 14-11. Jasmine Frost added another point for the Dons with a stone cold ace. After a series of nail-biting rallies, the Dons still held onto a three-point lead, but then pulled away from the Cougs with two kills in a row by Maddie Bacon, several more kills by Hanna Hageboeck, and another by Marissa Hill. Lyanne Wang fired another ace at the Cougs before an exciting rally that left the score at 22-18. Sofie Foster and Ryann Jones dealt the final blows to the Cougs in the second set with kills that left the Cougs speechless. If only we could have played a third set, it surely would have been riveting!   The Dons are now tied for first in the league as they head into their final two matches this coming week. 

The game can be viewed here: https://sporfie.app.link/0R2F75Wkqgb