To say the air was filled with anticipation is an understatement. Our home gym was cool in the late summer evening as the freshman Dons fought tooth and nail, point for point against a tough Campo team. Ultimately falling in 2 sets, but what an effort!
All eyes were on the JV squad as they warmed up for the brewing crowd. The girls steely focus, evident, as they got loose and ready for what was sure to be an epic match of will between these rivals.
The Cougars came with an axe to grind, their JV team falling hard last year to the Dons JV squad, and you could feel the energy start to intensify as more and more of the crowd made their way to the stands.
Game 1.
Sydney Graves with the opening serve and a tough call “out” gave the rock to Campo. But a thundering slam by Ellie Blanchard took it right back and we settled in for a game!
Back and forth, the teams traded serves and points and it was 5-3 Dons. Amelia Easley took the ball and served up a whole mess of points with support from Meher Jeyakrishnan, Sela Sarbiewski and some serious cross court magic.
But the Cougars kept coming and Maggie Krackeler took the ball knotted up at 8 and then grabbed a few more.
At 11-10 Dons, Stella Larkin took the ball and after showing signs of putting on a CLINIC, the Cougars called a time out at 13-10. Stella went back to work. A marvelous block by Valeria Toledo gave us another point, but the ceiling interfered, and Campo took the ball back.
The Cougars took the lead by two when coach Alan took a time out to re-group. Back and forth, the teams went again and Valeria took the ball at 19-20 Cougars after a slam from Maggie and it was tied up again.
Then 20-21 Cougars.
20-22 Cougars
20-23 Cougars
And an Acalanes time out.
At 21-24 Amelia to serve again and…
22-24. Amelia’s serve is too hot to handle! But a light touch from the Cougars stole the final point and the Dons dropped the first game to the Visiting Cougars.
Game 2.
Game two was underway and the Dons got the serve. Down 1-2, the ball in Lourdes Smith’s hands, she served up a dart, returned by the cats but met with a killer block by Valeria to tie it up!
Then the teams went back to trading points. 3-3; 4-4.
Then Amelia took command and after an EPIC rally it was 7-4 Dons. And at 8-4 Dons, the Cougars got it back, but another strong rally with 2 saves from Stella and slams from Ella Chong and Maggie and the Dons were on a roll.
Maggie Krackeler served it to 10-5 Dons, forcing a Cougar T.O. Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh, oh!
SMASH went the ball off Ellie Blanchard’s hands for a point! With authority!
10-6
10-8
11-8
12-8
13-9 Dons
But the Cougars weren’t going anywhere and at 13 all Coach Alan called a time out.
At 14-15 Cougars, Ellie Blanchard took the ball and Maggie Krackeler, slammed the ball over the net for a point. 15 a piece.
At 17-18 Cougars, Amelia took command and put the pedal to the metal. We turned around and it was 20-18 Dons, forcing another Cougar T.O.!
The Dons gave back the serve, but after the Cougars put it in the net, Stella Larkin took the ball, and it was 23-20 Dons. With a resounding THUD from Ella, we were going to 3 games!!!
Game 3.
Cougars drew first blood with a close ball on the line, but a “two hands” call gave Ellie Blanchard the ball and the Dons went to work. Set, slam Larkin-Krackeler, and it was 3-1. But the Cougars took it back and it was 3-3.
At 4-7 Cougars, Coach Alan called a time out to get the mojo back. And it worked. So, at 5-7 Cougars, Amelia took the ball to serve it up again!
6-7
7-7
8-7
9-7
10-7
And the Cougars really HAD to take a time out after THAT run, wow! Talk about taking someone to school!
A KILLER stop by Sydney Scovic and Maggie took the ball, 11-8 Dons.
Then it was Cougar ball, but a BEAUTIFUL touch at the net from Ella took it back and it was 13-10. The Cougars fired it into the net. 14-10.
Sydney Graves caged the Cougars with the serve to end the game in favor of the Dons!!
