LAKEPORT — The Clear Lake Cardinals are halfway home to accomplishing what no other Clear Lake volleyball team has ever done, win a North Coast Section championship.
Clear Lake cleared its second hurdle in the 16-team Division 5 tournament by beating No. 7 seed Drew of San Francisco 22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14 in the quarterfinal round Saturday night at the Clear Lake High School gym. The No. 2-seeded Cardinals dispatched No. 15 Hoopa Valley in straight sets during opening-round action Wednesday.
Along with punching their ticket to next Wednesday's semifinals against No. 3 seed The Bay School of San Francisco — action begins at 7 p.m. in the Clear Lake High gym — the Cardinals achieved a season milestone, winning their 30th match (against only three losses). They also guaranteed themselves a spot in the upcoming state playoffs by reaching the sectional semifinals.
Those were a couple of selling points Clear Lake head coach Marci Psalmonds used to motivate her squad after it dropped the first set to the Dragons.
"We didn't start slow," Psalmonds said of the first set. "We were on first at the start."
Clear Lake built a 17-10 lead and appeared to be on its way when things went south ... and in a hurry, according to Psalmonds.
"Momentum totally shifted," Psalmonds said. "We had a few unforced errors and missed some serves. Before you knew it they had all the momentum. That's one thing about volleyball, it shifts fast. When we went up 17-10 I remember thinking this was going to be over in three."
As she huddled with her players between sets, Psalmonds reminded them exactly what was on the line and what they stood to gain — a 30th win, a chance to advance to the state playoffs, and the opportunity to carry the public school banner into the sectionals finals.
"We're the last public school left," Pslamonds. "Little ol' Clear Lake."
The Cardinals began to regain control of the match early in the second set, one that featured the longest rally Psalmonds said she has ever been a part of as a coach.
"The ball must have gone back and forth 20-25 times," Psalmonds said. "But I never was comfortable, not after they (Dragons) came back to win the first set. They're a scrappy team."
Middle hitter Abby Mertle and outside hitter Stella Hill powered the Cardinals up front while Clear Lake's defense did the rest, racking up 122 digs in the four sets.
Mertle led the Cardinals with 14 kills and three blocks while Hill had 11 kills and 17 digs.
"Abby had a great night and Stella did really well," Psalmonds said. "That's the best I've seen her (Hill) hit the ball from the outside."
The Cardinals also got a strong performance from setter Sierra Bruch, who was less than 100 percent for the second match in a row because of illness.
"She pushed through it, she's a gamer, a real athlete," Psalmonds said of the senior, who finished with 31 assists, 31 digs and 12 service points.
Sophomore libero Amber Smart was a big part of Clear Lake's defensive effort with 20 digs while also contributing 13 points, including two aces. The team's other sophomore starter, Quincy Paarsch, had a rough start but came on late, finishing with 21 digs.
Clear Lake's win over Drew in the quarterfinals was noteworthy for another reason, according to Psalmonds.
"It's the first time I've taken them past the quarterfinals (in the sectionals)," she said. "It's great."
Clear Lake finished second to Roseland University Prep (RUP) of Santa Rosa in the North Central League I standings this season, but the Cardinals are the only NCL I team left after Saturday night. RUP lost in straight sets to No. 1 seed Marin Academy in the Division 4 quarterfinals.
The Clear Lake-Bay School and Urban-Berean Christian semifinals winners advance to the Division 5 championship match Nov. 5 at a site and time to be determined.
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