Dons beat the Matadors in 3 action-packed games
11/3/2009
Pleasanton, California - The first game opened with Amador’s Andrea Larson serving, and the wall of Amber Wright and Haley Traynor knocking down a Granada spike to put Amador on the scoreboard. Wright followed with a spike of her own, then Larson served up an ace to bring the score to 3-0 (Dons). The score moved to 5-1, then Granada turned up the heat. Traynor gained the Dons a point with a quick spike to Granada’s floor. Alyssa Lubow also spanked the ball down for a kill and Amador kept the lead at 8-5. At 9-8, Granada took the serve and moved ahead 9-10. A huge slam by Wright pulled the Dons back ahead (11-10), but the Dons and the Mustangs traded serves and the lead. A tremendous rally at 11-12 was ended with yet another Wright spike. Larson served again and took the kill for the point, and Amador snuck back in the lead 13-12. After a quick Granada attempt at the service line, Wright took over serving for the Dons and Amador pulled all the way to 17-13 (Dons), with one Wright ace. The Mustangs came galloping back with great play, and moved to the lead (17-18, Granada). Traynor stopped their momentum with a tip for the kill to end another great rally. After a quick Amador service, Granada got the side out and kept moving forward. The last few points saw long rallies with some amazing saves, but Amador could not regain the side out and lost game one 18-25.

Game two started with Amador in the lead as Wright put the first point on the board with her “dink” over the net for the kill. The Dons and Mustangs traded a few points back and forth, with Wright taking over the serve at 3-2 (Dons). A spike by Traynor, another hard spike by Erica Norton and an ace by Wright pulled the score to 6-2. Granada earned a couple of points, but Traynor took over service at 7-4 and served up 4 quick points. Granada got the side out, but a spike by Elaina Gates brought service back to the Dons. Holly Hafford started off her serves with an ace, and Amador moved the score to 14-6. At 15-8, Zandi Wesenberg started her consistent serving and with great defensive plays by the Dons earned 8 consecutive points. Some notable plays were the MONSTER hit by Wright for a kill, the wall of Wright and Gates rejecting a Granada spike, and a great save by Larsen to a Wright spike. Ignoring the huge lead, Granada rallied back from 23-9 (Dons) and added points to their side of the scoreboard. Finally, at 23-12, Lubow slammed the ball to the Granada floor and brought the side out to the Dons. Gates finished off service for the Dons and the game was ended with Lubow’s spike for the kill. Game two 25-12, Dons.

Our Lady Dons were pumped up for action in game three and Wesenberg started off the service to put Amador on the board first. Wright was on fire again this game with two decisive slams to the floor for kills. Libero Sara Cohen was all over the back line with diving digs, and sent one powerful serve right back to the Granada floor for the kill. This 3rd game was a white-knuckler for the Dons cheering squad, as Granada pulled ahead 5-9. The side out finally went to Amador on Traynor’s front line slam. Traynor then took over service and brought the Dons back to the lead (10-9), with one ace, and two powerful spikes for kills by Lubow. The game alternated between tied scores and one-point leads, with a spike by Gates to bring the game to 13-12. Gates took over the serve and the Dons took a two point lead 14-12. As the game was well over the 5 pm stop time, the ref ended the game. Game and match, Lady Dons!

We’ll be sorry to see this great season end at our last match on Thursday against Foothill. Beat the Falcons! Let’s go Dons!