We’re fresh off a tough match away at Campolindo last Tuesday. Campo is a strong team, and the girls really put up a tough fight, but you know the Cougars were squarely focused on exacting revenge for dropping their first loss in 20 years to our Dons earlier in the season. Even thought we didn’t take the W Tuesday, this season this team broke the Campo win streak and you can’t ever take that sweetness away. A massive effort by our Dons, one to be proud of!
A tear-jerker of a senior ceremony honoring the high school careers of Addi Ames, Annie Baker, MaeLin Mason, Emme Seelenbacher and Addy Treter!! So many parent and relatives in the audience to cheer on these girls at their last home game of High School – the gym was packed! What a great night to celebrate!!
Now it’s Thursday, senior night against the Las Lomas Knights. The Knights snuck a “W” by our Dons early in the season and our Dons are psyched to exact some revenge and put the lights out on them Knights. Time to square up the round table and send the Knights back to their own kingdom!!
But enough pre-amble – let’s gooooooo!!!
Set 1.
All seniors and Stella Larkin to open the first set and the Knights draw first blood but only for a second as Addi Ames answers right back with a STAB to the back corner to take the serve. An awesome save by Stella sets up the point for the Dons and we proceed to go back and forth, point by point.
4-3 Dons. But another rule I don’t understand gives the Knights the point and it’s tied. But then of course Sophia Terry says, “nuh uh!” with a signature SMASH and it’s 5-4 Dons.
And a KILL by MaeLin Mason puts the Dons up by 2. 7-5.
And another STAB by Ames smokes it to the back. The Knights keep it close with a few points of their own and it’s 8-7 Dons. Addy Treter with the KILL whoa – whoa to be the floor! Emme Seelenbacher firing frozen ropes at serve and it’s 12-7 all of the sudden as the Knights start to miss the days of yore.
The sweet touch by Addi Ames rolls right off last Lomas fingertips! So pretty. Serves tonight are on point! And it’s 15-9 Dons as Ames makes quick work of the knights.
And Annie Baker SMASHES the kill!!
At 18-14 Dons, as the Knights have crept into this game but strong play at the net including a one handed save by Emme Seelenbacher helps us get to 20-14.
Stella fires a SHOT across the bow! Kuh-Boom!
And the Emme, Treter combo grabs another Dons point!! Let’s supersize that please!!
Annie Baker hugs the back line for ANOTHER Dons point and it’s 22-16 Dons. More of the Annie Baker show will be right back after this set!!!
In a scary twist, the Knights nab a few and it creeps up to 23-19 as Coach Haley calls a TO.
We exchange a few more and it’s 24-21 Dons on defense. But the Annie Baker show goes into reruns with a massive set ending CRUSH!! Set 1 to the Dons!!
Set 2.
A stellar Stella with a one handed, diving save to open it up…but the Knights take the point…only to serve it long and give it to the Dons tied 1-1.
Emme, Sophia for textbook back court KILL. But after some strong play by the Knights it’s 3-8 knights and coach Haley calls a TO.
Settle.
The Dons miss a few key opportunities and the Las Lomas Knights are leading 4-13 when Coach Haley calls another TO.
And just like that Sophia Terry SLAMS it down on the floor and takes the serve back!!
5-13 Knights.
WHOA! Addy Treter smokes it in for a big one and Treter follows it up with the sweet touch for another point!
8-16 Knights, we’re halfway there!
And the Knights go wide! A massive rally off the ceiling falls our way and it’s 10-16. And MaeLin gets in on the action for another Don point!! Annie Baker with another one!!
And it’s 12-17 Knights as we chip away at their lead. And Annie Baker…again with the CRUSHING Kill! And we pull within 5.
13-18 Knights
Stella to MaeLin for the kill! And Sophia with the massive DENIAL at the net!! Followed by the Knights firing into their own net! MaeLin with the denial and a Knights TO at 17-19 Knights. We’re breathing FIRE!!!
Stumble and a misfire and the Knights grab 2 but then serve long and it’s 18-21 Knights.
But a few more fall the way of the Knights and it’s 18-23. Spectacular one arm play by Emme but the point falls again to the Knights and so does the set. One set a piece.
Set 3.
And Emme opens up with an ICY ROPE that gets batted around but falls our way. And Addi Ames gets the denial at the net and it’s 2-0 Dons.
Stella, Emme, Treter for the JAM!! Knights smash long! The Annie Baker SHOW is back!!! Knights go wide! ACE!!! And finally one falls to the Knights but not before Emme takes 7 off of them.
7-2 Dons.
And PIPER COY with the JAM!!
A few more fall back and forth and it’s 10-4 good buddy – Dons.
Piper smash!
Another great serve by Ellie Blanchard but the knights take it and it’s 10-5. And then 10-6 despite a heroic effort to save a ball by Addi Ames.
And the Knights fire into their net sending it back our way. 11-6 Dons.
What a save by Piper, Stella and Addi Ames but it doesn’t go our way and another smash by the Knights and it’s within 1.
11-10 Dons.
We grab a few and it’s 13-11 Dons when Emme set dumps it to take it back!
14-12 Dons.
14-13 Dons
Stella, Emme, Treter like clockwork – set your watch to that!!
Annie Baker again with the denial at the net!! And Annie Baker continues with the CRUSH on offense and defense!! Real effort to save a tough ball goes wide and it’s 17-14 Dons. But Addi and Addy throw hands at the net and it goes nowhere for the knights. And AGAIN at the net this time Treter and Baker!
19-14 Dons.
Addie Ames from mid-court with the smash!!! Piper with the touch after some back and forth and it’s 21-18 Dons. Sophia with the sweet touch and we pull ahead by 3. 22-19.
Addie Ames with a smash and it’s 23-20 Dons. My heart!
Stella ACE!!
24-20 Dons
But the Knight’s find the back and it’s 24-21 Dons, Knights serve and it falls to the ground on the Knights side and set 3 to the Dons!!!
Set 4.
We’ve been here before…Dons take first blood with a sweet cross court smash. And Annie Baker keeps it coming 3-2 Dons early in the set.
Emme to Sophia Terry for the Kuh-BOOM takes it back – how can anyone FACE that velocity?!?!?! Rena Liu with the ACE!!! 5-3 Dons. Rena with cannon fire but the Knights manage to find a few planks of wood on our side. 5-4 Dons.
And the Knights handle it tough and tie it up at Nickels. Our Don’s drop a quick 3 to the Knights and Coach Haley calls a TO so we can re-group. The sidelines are AMPED and so is the crowd, what a team, what great support from the community. A fabulous night!
Back from the TO and Piper Coy answers the call with a crushing Kill a STUNNER! Addi Ames find the back corner!! But the Knights eke out a few and it’s 8-9 Knights, when they get a squeaker on the line. And a Don ball goes long and a TO by Coach Haley.
7-12 Knight’s as our Dons take the court again looking intense and focused. Not in our house! And the Knights serve it long. Then we give it back. And Annie Baker in her signature windmill, crushes it to take back the serve
9-14 Knights.
Then Annie Baker with the slick “psych” move to fake ‘em out and take back the serve
11-16 Knights.
Rena serves up an ACE!! And Sophia Terry with the SMASH!!! Awesome one handed save by Piper keeps it in our house!!! And Emme denies at the Net and a TO by the Knights after dropping 5.
16-18. Knights.
C’mon though, Rena Liu cant be frozen, not going to happen and she comes out wth an ACE! Diving save by Stella to keep it rockin, and in Rena’s hands!! Tied at 18!
But the Knight’s grab it back after a serving CLINIC by Rena Liu!! 18-19 Knights.
It’s 18-21 Knights. When they send it into the net and deliver the serve to Piper. The Knights take it right back and it’s 19-22 Knights but they serve it long!
Stella fires up the CANNON and a tip sends it out 21-22 Knight’s. And Treter with the crushing blow!! All tied up at 22. And Addi Ames with the smash. 23-22 Dons. But the Knights tie it up and take the serve 23 a piece.
A tough call and it’s 23-24 Knights. Knights SERVE. IT. OUT! Tied at 24 a piece! But you know who…Annie Baker with the smash!!! 25-24 Dons. TO Knights.
Can you feel it?!?!?! I can’t feel a thing, or say a thing or even see straight! Holy Mackerel I don’t think anyone is supposed to have this much excitement on a Thursday!
As the Don’s come back from the TO, ball in the air…Treter climbs the ladder and..
Treter at the net for the WIN!!! Wow what a match!!!
I’ve written it all year but it can’t be said enough, these girls are tough! What a night to foil the Knights! Senior night at home goes to the Don’s for a spectacular win in what has been the calling card for this season – GRIT!
Go Dons!!!