Amador Valley Earns EBAL Crown
Rob Mori - 11/3/2009
PLEASANTON, CA. – Amador Valley (25-7, 13-0 EBAL) clinched the EBAL title Tuesday night with a four-set win over Granada (10-3 EBAL) 31-29, 21-25, 25-16, 25-14. Senior hitter Nikki Baker and junior hitter Rachel Kinnard both had career highs with 28 kills and 18 kills respectively. Senior libero Cassie Hahn also had a career high 18 digs in the match. Amador had won 25 straight sets before losing the second set and it is only the third set they have lost in league play.

In the first set, the Dons jumped out to an early 8-5 lead after three consecutive kills by Baker. Granada took a 22-19 lead but Amador rallied to go up 23-22. Both teams fought off several set points, but a kill by senior middle Jessica Atkins tied the set at 29-29 and Kinnard finished the set with two kills to preserve the Dons 31-29 win.

The Dons led 5-4 in the second set, but Granada came back and took the lead at 6-5, and held the lead for the rest of the set. Amador held off three set points with kills by Atkins, Kinnard and Baker, but the rally fell short and Granada held on for the 25-21 win.

Baker broke an 11-11 tie in the third set with a kill and Amador’s offense kicked in with senior middle Grace Vickers serving. Atkins had a solo block and a kill and Baker added two kills to give the Dons a 16-11 lead. The Dons finished the set with junior opposite Becca Malmrose serving the final points. Vickers and Kinnard had kills to give the Dons a 25-16 win. The Dons outscored the Matadors 14-5 to finish the set.

Amador continued to dominate in the fourth set. Vickers hammered a kill, Baker added two kills and Atkins had one as the Dons went up 11-4. Junior setter Kelsey Williams, who had 59 assists in the match, served four points in-a-row to extend the Dons lead to 16-5. Amador cruised to a 25-14 win with Kinnard ending the set with a kill.

The Dons are the top ranked Division I team in the North Coast Section and 25th in the state on Maxpreps.com.
Coach Rich Cortez told his team that, ”we are league champs, but we’re not done yet.” Amador can go undefeated in league with a win over Foothill at home on Thursday night which will also be Senior Night.

Stats:
Nikki Baker 28 kills, 13 digs
Rachel Kinnard 18 kills, 10 digs, .429 hitting %
Grace Vickers 10 kills, 7 digs 4 blocks, 3 aces
Jessica Atkins 8 kills
Kelsey Williams 59 assists, 3 blocks, 1 ace
Cassie Hahn 19 digs
Becca Malmrose 10 digs
.303 team hitting %

T: 1:45

Rob Mori
AV VB