Ellie Allen delivers a kill attempt in the varsity match versus Rosamond. Submitted Photo.
Lady Broncs stay tied atop the HDL with Mammoth at 5-1
The Kern Valley varsity volleyball team took the court and figured out how to grab a couple of match wins on the road in the HDL. They came up with the answer and delivered the wins needed to stay in league championship contention.
The first match of the week, the Lady Broncs made a trip to Frazier Mountain. It would be a wonderful return trip as they took the match in three sets. Kern Valley took the match lead with a 25-15 win in the opening set. They made it two straight with the 25-12 victory in the second set. They closed out the match sweep by taking game three 25-19.
The Lady Broncs served up four service aces as a team. Four Lady Broncs delivered aces in the match. Ava Elliott led the way with a pair of aces. Ruby Hawkings, Elli Jeans, and Alex Armes each had one service ace. Kern Valley at the net collected 26 kills. Hawkings was at the top with nine. Ellie Allen recorded five kills, while Jessie Bunting and Jeans had four kills apiece. Elliot was credited with three kills, while Jayda Bushling rounded out the net play work with one kill.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lady Broncs Hawkings recorded three blocks in the match. She was the only Kern Valley player to get credit with a block. Paisley Wilkins led Kern Valley in assists with 23. Allen and Leenah Troller each had one assist in the match. The digs leader was shared by Jeans and Bushling with 13. Wilkins and Elliott were credited with seven apiece, while Armes had four digs. Hawkings had three, while Ellie Fannon was credited with two digs. One dig apiece was had by Bunting, Allen, and Troller.
Two days later the Lady Broncs were on the road once more. This time they traveled to Rosamond to face off with the Lady Roadrunners. The match went four sets, but in the end. Kern Valley came away with the victory. The Lady Broncs won the first to sets to take the 2-0 lead. They won game one 25-13 and followed that with a 25-23 win. Rosamond bounced back to take the third set 25-22 to make the match score 2-1. Game four was dominated by the Lady Broncs as they took that and the match with a 25-16 win.
Aces: Jeans 3, Wilkins 2, Armes 2, Bushling 2, Hawkings 1, Elliott 1. Kills: Hawkings 18, Bunting 9, Jeans 7, Elliott 3, Allen 2, Wilkins 1, Bushling 1. Blocks: Hawkings 2, Bunting 1, Jeans 1. Assists: Wilkins 35, Armes 2, Bunting 1. Digs: Elliott 14, Wilkins 13, Jeans 7, Bushling 7, Armes 6, Bunting 3, Allen 3, Hawkings 2.
Kern Valley head coach Jamie Duran said, “We play Cal City on Tuesday who is coming off of a five-set win against Bishop. It’ll be a tough game, but our varsity team continues to lock in each game and shows such fight and resilience. Each player is doing their part and I’m so proud of this team.”
The aforementioned Cal City match will end the first round of HDL action. They will be back on the court on Thursday when they entertain Bishop.
HDL Volleyball Standings
| Team | W | L | GB |
| Mammoth | 5 | 1 | – |
| Kern Valley | 5 | 1 | – |
| Cal City | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Bishop | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Frazier Mt. | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Rosamond | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Desert | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Boron | 0 | 6 | 5 |
