Set 1.

First blood to Benicia as the cats kneed the floor to get comfortable. But Piper Coy says that’s enough of that!! And nails a solid strike to the back court to take it right back. Feels like this one might have a lot of back and forth.

Stella Larkin, Emme Seelenbacher, MaeLin Mason with the Kuh-BOOM! Showing our strength! And Addy Treter takes the serve firing frozen ropes across the bow without a meow and it’s 4-3 Dons. 

After several slams that are returned at the net, MaeLin goes for the soft touch and takes the point to put the ball in the Don’s hands – psych! After a MASSIVE rally with awesome touches Panthers get the serve and it’s 5-7 Panthers. 

A spectacular save by Rena Liu at the back line, oh my that was incredible, but unfortunately the Panthers take the point and Coach Haley calls a TO at 5-9 Panthers to settle. 

After re-grouping from the TO Piper smashes it into the back court giving Stella the serve. KILLER focus by the whole team to save the ball and keep the serve. And Stella is lights out with strong, consistent strikes!

After a 3 point streak we’re making our way back into this one and it’s 9-11 Panthers. Piper with critical smashes to keep us in the game and take the ball back after only 1 for the Cats – but it goes back and forth and the Panthers take it right back, but…

Annie Baker with the smash! to take the serve back and Rena at the line 13-15 Panthers. And Rena takes a couple off the cats before they take it back.  Whoa! Incredible accuracy by MaeLin to place it into the back corner followed by an ELECTRIC serve by MaeLin to tie it up 16 a piece. 

And the Dons take the lead for the first time in the game. But Benecia take a quick 2 back before Piper says NO. And gives the serve to Stella. And we tie it back up again. 19. 

Emme with the set dump sweetness to tie it back up at 20 and take the serve. And Addy Treter with the DENIAL at the net puts us up by 1. 21-20 dons. 

Piper Coy KA-POW! for REALZ!!!  22-21. 

After some sideline discussion about the serving rules we’re at set point. 24-22 Dons. 

And a Tee-OH OH OH OU OH OH, by the Panthers.

But strong Panther play with their back against the wall and we’re tied at 24. 

Panthers go up 25-24. And have the serve. 

And another unfortunate turn of events gives the Panthers the first set. 

 

Set. 2. 

But we are a resilient team and aren’t EVER out of contention, with that spirit we’re locked and loaded for the second set.  Oh boy we can’t catch a break and first blood goes to the cats again. But Benicia serves it out and Piper takes the rock. Back and forth for sooo many touches, but the rally doesn’t go out way. 

Treter with and ELECTRIC strike to the back court. And we’re tied at 3. 

Sophia Terry climbs the ladder and SMOKES it to take the lead. Feels like I’m always looking at the bottom of that girls shoes!  Woot!!

At 4 a piece the Panthers serve it out and Larkin pitches a strike and we go up by 2. 

6-4. Dons.  

I’ve never claimed to be a volleyball expert, so sometimes the rules can confuse me, but somehow the Panthers manage to go up 7-8.

Emme with the rock of after an arduous set of challenges not completely in their control and it’s 8-10 Panthers and a SMOKIN HOT smash by Piper gives us the ball back. But we continue to stay 2 behind and it’s 10-12. 

Stellar play at the net by Sophia and Annie Baker as we take it back and put the ball in  Rena’s hand. And a ROPE that is just too hot to handle and we’re tied at 13. Man, I’m sweatin’ in here.

And ANOTHER Rena smash!!! Kuh-boom. 14-13 Dons. And ANOTHER strike!! 15-13 dons. Emme to Sophia is freaking poetry and it’s 16-13 Dons. Smash by MaeLin. More power unleashed from Rena and we have our biggest lead so far 18-13 and a Panther TO. 

And Rena goes right back to work extending her streak with a spectacular save and when it’s all done.  A 6 point streak by Rena! 

A Panther streak of their own and they chip away at our lead getting to 20-19 Dons and a coach Haley TO. 

21-19 Dons

22-19 Dons

Panther serve and we take it back at the net. 23-21 Dons. Man, these Panthers are here to play, one, two points and it’s tied at 23 a piece with the Panthers to serve. We are going all out playing hard but lose the lead 23-24 Panthers. 

Set 2 goes to the cats. 

 

Set 3. 

It can be difficult to play within the confines of the strictest application of the rules, but these girls don’t waiver in their commitment to the game and each other and come out for the third set with some intensity. 

All the marbles on the line now and the Dons start the 3rd set on defense.  

Annie Baker responsible for both of our first two points and Scovic at the serve – great serve but we shoot it too far back and give it up, but MaeLin answers with the soft touch to put the ball in Rena’s hand and she goes back to firing until the offense tries to annihilate Stella who takes a crazy hard hit ball to the chest but manages to not go out on the DL and shrugs it off like it happens all the time…so Sophia can slam the ball back!  And MaeLin serves to ties it up at 5 

Addie Ames with the deliciousness keeps it in Dons hands and another Addie Ames ROPE is too much for the cat defense and we’re up by two. 7-5 Dons. 

The firepower behind one of the panther servers is undeniable but Sophia Terry has a cannon of her own and gives Stella the serve.

And she’s MONEY!! Adding 3 – 10-7 dons. 

With the entire sideline screaming “IN” MaeLin lets it sail OUT (phew!) giving the Dons the serve and Emme goes to work!

And Annie Baker with a killer strike! Followed by an Emme ACE!! And a TO!!

13-8 Dons. 

And the FIRE from MaeLin keeps it in Emme’s hands. Before she’s through it’s 14-9 Dons. We’re ROLLIN’!

Addi Ames comes up to serve and the power is unleashed but craziness at the net keeps it in the panthers hands. But after they serve long and Scovic comes up to serve her brand of “not on my time!” And takes a few. 

We drop a quick 2 but then Sophia with the sweet touch takes it back and Rena goes to the line. 

18-14 Dons. 

Emme to Sophia for Acalanes POETRY times TWO and it’s 20-15 Dons. 

But the Panthers take a quick few off of us and stay in the game 21-18 Dons. Sydney Scovic with the power push at the net takes it back!! 

Cats get one back and it’s 22-19 Dons. Man what is this, ping pong?  Ugh!

22-20 Dons 

And MAELIN lights the can of STERNO to the back court!! And Sydney Scovic puts another one on the board and it’s 24-20 Dons and the cats need a TO break to get ready for the loss of set 3. 

And the third set goes to the Dons at the hand of Sydney Scovic. 

 

Set 4. 

Here we go again, marbles on the line and time to bear down to focus on victory in set 4. We know what to do. Here we go. 

Emme opens us with the serve. And Stella, Emme, Sydney Scovic for first blood!!

But we turn it over after 1 and go on defense. But Scovic again with the jam at the net. Addie Ames serves up her brand of ACE baby. And another one for Ames. And Emme to Scovic for the textbook smash. And when she’s done it’s 5-2 Dons. 

Sydney Scovic with the serve. A beautiful floater finds the floor!! And another ACE by Sydney!!  And at 8-2 Dons it’s a TO early by the cats. You can see they are rattled…

And they can’t shake our girls as Sydney puts up ANOTHER ACE!!

Sophia with authority and we are up 10-2 Dons. And a jumble on the cats side for another point. And before she’s done Sydney racks up 6 and it’s 11-3 Dons. 

Rena serves 12-3 and a good rally goes our way. 

And after yielding 1 Stella, Emme, MaeLin with the text book “set ‘em up and knock ‘em down,” power play takes it back!  

15-6 Dons and we’re on defense. 

The Panther isn’t exactly the sphynx but denial at the net ain’t just a river in Egypt either. And Sophia rejects the cats big time!! Denied!! 

But we give a few back and it’s 16-10 Dons. Scovic smash! 

Again, wow. But a point doesn’t go our way and at 18-14 Dons take a TO.  

The Panthers have taken a few and brought it close. 19-17 Dons.  A tough one at the net goes their way19-18 Dons.  And PIPER with authority. 20-18 Dons. 

Rena with the rock. And Piper again send the ball to the floor – how does that thing stay inflated?!?!?! And Rena brings the heat with an ACE!! Forcing a TO!!!

22-18 Dons. 

Emme with the sweet touch at the net and it’s 23-18 Dons

Ball back to the cats and it’s 23-19

Cats battle and it’s 23-21 when coach Haley calls a time out. 

Back on the court, the Panthers serve and it’s a hot one that ricochets off of someone, honestly, it’s a blur because RENA with the DIVING save and point to the Dons!! 

And Sophia with the CRUSH!!! FYW!!

We’re going to 5 baby!! 

 

Set 5. 

It sure says something about these girls that they’ve given everything to stay in this game. I see smiles and laughter on the court and it’s infectious. We head to the fifth set and the girls are in a roll. Win or lose, their fortitude is unquestionable. 

First blood to the cats as we settle in for this short set. A short serve by the cats gives it right back and Addi Ames takes the helm. Cats quickly take it back. 1-2 Panthers. 

We drop 3 and it’s 1-4 Panthers when coach Haley calls a TO. 

Back to the action on court and we take it back!  Scovic to serve. 2-4 Panthers. But the cats catch a break and take the serve back. When Sophia says, “Nuh uh” and Rena serves at 3-5 Panthers. And she SMOKES it across the net, breaking Panther nails all along the way. And DENIAL at the net AGAIN and we’re knotted up at 5 and a Panther ball flies out and Dons lead 6-5. 

Stella, Emme, Sophia textbook smash (someone should write a book) sends the Cats to the sidelines with a TO.  7-5 Dons. 

But the cats can’t rattle Rena and we take another. Spectacular save by Stella to keep it alive and ANOTHER point stretches out lead 9-5. And ANOTHER one for Rena!! 10-5 Dons. The hits keep coming!! 11-5 and ANOTHER TO by the Panthers!! 

Fight fight fight!! 

Rena um, still serving. 

ACE!!! WOOT!! 

OUT off the Cats paws!!! 

13-5!! 

Piper with the STRIKE at the net!! 

14-5!!

And am ACE wins the whole shebang!!!  

Dons win!!!  Rena with 8 straight and only was stopped by winning the game!! What an incredible display of confidence and focus.  These girls weren’t EVER out of the game, even down two sets to zip!  It’s inspiring!  Excellent show of power by our Don’s in Benicia!