Lady Dons Rule in the Matadome!
Dons showed up to Miramonte with a desire to win. Impressive setting by Mara and Emme secured multiple kills by Katelyn, Hanna, and MaeLin in the first set. Strong defense from Jade, Georgia, and Lyanne in the back line ensured each point was hard-earned. In a set that could have gone either way, the Lady Don’s combined effort was not enough to secure a win. Acalanes lost the first set 22-25.
The second set highlighted some trick sets over the net by Mara, some big blocks by Katelyn, and Monica’s impressive start as oppo. While the front line put up multiple kills, it was not enough for a win. The second set resulted in a 25-17 loss.
For set 3, the Lady Dons took the floor with a resolve to win. The Dons drew first blood in the Matadome with an impressive set by Emme to Apple kill combination. Maya and Katelyn’s defense helped to closed down the middle to Miramonte. Strong back row digs by Jade, Lyanne, and Mika helped hold back the impressive swinging power of the Matadors. Strong sets by Mara and Emme secured five kills for both Monica and Hanna, and multiple more kills for the front row. While Miramonte tried to make a late-game comeback, the Dons did not falter. Mara’s late-game ace, followed by Hanna’s kill shot secured the Dons’ first win of the evening.
The Matadors raged back in set four by taking a 4-0 lead. Apple turned the tide w/ the team’s first point. MaeLin then served up two aces. During her service, Acalanes recaptured the lead. A back-and-forth game followed between rivals. A strong Acalanes defense demonstrated by great digs by Jade and assists from Lyanne and Georgia highlighted Don’s desire to win. Pressure on the front line led by middles Maya and Katelyn forced Miromonte to make mistakes on outside hits. Emme’s ace resulted in a 12-11 lead; a lead the Dons would keep for the remainder of the game. During the set, Katelyn and Apple each reported five kills.
The tie-breaker was all Dons. Katelyn put up two kills in a row to take the lead at 2-0 lead. While Miramonte tried to make a comeback, great blocking in the front row along with strong sets across the front line ensured the pressure remained on Miramonte. In the end, the Matadors never were able to take the lead back from Acalanes. A late-game ace by Emme followed by a kill by Katelyn sealed the fate for the flailing Matadors.
The Dons demonstrated amazing grit while in the ring at the Matadome. In previous games, the Lady Dons were able to secure multiple points with serving. Not this game, as Miramonte’s back row proved too skilled. This game was hard won because all parts of the team worked as one.
As the Lady Dons reach the midpoint of their season, they are proving they have what it takes to go far in the post season.
Dons will battle the Mats again at Home, Thursday, October 20th, Senior night!
Next up:
Thursday, October 9th
Benecia at home
Tuesday, October 11th
DONS BATTLE CAMPO (AWAY)
Please come cheer us on!
Wear Blue
Frosh 4
JV- 5
Varsity- 6:30
Thursday, October 13th
Northgate at Home
Think Pink Charity Bake Sale
Varsity comes back and wins after going down first two sets and JV stays undefeated in league play with a dominating road victory against the Mats
Looking to stay unbeaten in league and move their overall record to 17-1, the Lady Dons travelled down the road to Orinda to take on the Miramonte Matadors. It took a few points for us to get into the swing of things. Once our Dons got into their groove, it became a nightmare for the home team. Piper Coy and Stella Larkin each had 3 aces to help spread the point differential in the right direction. Addy Treter sealed a point after a long rally with a sweet roof block. Sophia Terry smoked a powerful kill that sent the ball inches from the end line to win another point. Rena Liu finished off the first set 25-13 with an exclamation point with an ace.
In set 2, Addi Ames had a powerful kill to start it off. Rena then had 3 aces in a row to increase our lead to 6-2. Kylah Fox used a clever roll shot to send the ball to the middle court which caused the entire Miramonte team to just sit and watch as it fell harmlessly to the floor. Addy Treter and Milan Maycock combined for a couple of beautiful points to highlight the strength of the Lady Dons middle power. Christina Hageboeck and Fiona Roux had aces to make sure there would be no comeback on this night. To finish the second set and match, Piper had a crushing kill. Go Dons!
Freshman Girls Volleyball Fail to Gore Matadors, Fall in Three Sets
Set #1: Dons win 25-16
The early action at the Matadome was subdued as each team failed to generate any real momentum. The score was knotted at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 8-8 and eventually 9-9 on Brooke Rardin’s kill as neither team was able to put together one of those scoring runs that tends to put away a set. At least until Reese Westphal stepped to the service line with the Dons up 10-9. Reese rattled off three straights service points, prompting Miramonte to call time out. Reese was unphased as play resumed, scoring another service point that extended the Dons lead to 14-9.
The Matadors narrowed the lead to 14-12 before Maya Stafford’s slick setter-dump gave the Dons a 15-12 lead. The Dons seemed in control but were unable to widen their lead beyond 3 points until Ellie Blanchard served for four straight service points, helped by Sydney Grave’s set to Maggie Krackeler for an impressive kill on point 17 and Maggie’s amazing save on the net for point 18.
The Dons were cruising with a 22-16 lead when Veronica Flint sent a bump hit over the net that must have had some voodoo magic on it as the ball hovered and fell to the floor untouched on the Matador side for an unconventional kill! Maya closed out the set with two service points, including an ace to seal the deal.
Set #2: Dons lose 23-25
The Dons came out flat in the second set and before we knew it Coach Roman Seguerre was calling time out with team down 2-8. Sydney set up Juliana Harhay for a nice kill as play resumed and Audrey Martin and Ellie contributed strong kills that narrowed Miramonte’s lead to 6-10. The Dons began to get their mojo back as Ellie’s service ace cut the lead to 12-14 as the Matadors called time out.
Sela Sarbiewski kept the Dons’ momentum going with four straight service points, punctuated with an ace, that put the Dons up 17-16. The Dons grew their lead to 20-16 on Valeria Toledo’s nice tip at the net and the set seemed to be in hand after a shaky start, but Miramonte battled back with five straight points to take a 21-20 lead. Phoebe must have been hanging out with Veronica before the game as she also managed to turn a bump shot into a kill, keeping the Dons within one 22-23. The Dons’ backs were against the wall as Miramonte served for the win 22-24 but Maya set up Ellie for a resounding kill to keep the Dons alive 23-24. Sadly it was not to be as the Matadors captured the next point to win 25-23.
Set #3: Dons lose 13-15
Once again the Dons found themselves in an early hole, down 1-5. Brooke’s kill narrowed the deficit 5-8 and Reese’s serve got the Dons as close as 8-10 before the Matadors took control again 8-12, prompting coach Roman to call time out. The team responded well as Ellie had a nice kill, Sydney a great save off the net and Maggie a kill that cut the Miramonte lead to 12-14. Juliana provided a nice tip at the net with the game on the line, keeping the Dons alive 13-14. Much like the conclusion of the second set, the Dons couldn’t come up with that big point to tie things up as Miramonte wrapped it up 13-15.
Game ball: Reese Westphal – congrats and great job out there today!