Spikers sweep Analy, El Molino

After a close win in the first set Thursday, the Lady Dragon spikers kicked it up a notch and made sure the second and third sets against Analy left no doubt.

Sonoma Valley High eked out a 25-21 win in the first set with never more than a seven-point lead and at one time, the Tigers narrowed it to a single point at 21-20.

In the second set, the Tigers tied it at 5 and trailed at one point 10-7. But the Lady Dragons didn’t let the Tigers get any closer and closed out a 25-14 win. In the third set, the closest Analy got was two points, when Sonoma led 3-1. It was no contest after that as Sonoma won handily 25-9.

“Analy does a really good job in preparing their players,” said Lady Dragon Coach Chelsea Scott. “Analy and Petaluma are our toughest competitors in the SCL (Sonoma County League).”

“We did a great job tonight,” she continued. “Our ball handling was sensational.”

She pointed out that the Lady Dragons played in system 45 percent of the time. “That’s a very high number for high school,” she added.

“Tonight, we had some of the best team chemistry we’ve had all year,” she said.

While the Lady Dragons have been swamping the competition in the North Bay, they haven’t translated that success to several recent tournaments. The Lady Dragons lost three games in a tournament in Pittsburg on Sept. 17. Sonoma lost to Dougherty Valley 2-0; to Redwood 2-1; and to San Ramon Valley 2-0.

“We’ve had some key players miss some tournaments,” Scott said. “But that’s fine. People will underestimate us when it comes to the NCS.”

Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Lady Dragons beat El Molino in three sets, 25-2, 25-13 and 25-15.

“El Molino was missing probably the best libero in the conference,” Scott said. “We want to play the best.”

The two wins give the Lady Dragons an 8-6 overall record and a 3-0 Sonoma County League mark.

The Lady Dragons are at Healdsburg tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will be at Piner on Thursday, Sept. 29. Sonoma’s next home game is Tuesday, Oct. 4, against Elsie Allen.