Honkers' serves pick visiting RedHawks apart

Colusa High didn't have a solution to the Honkers serving game and Willows beat the visiting RedHawks in four games Thursday.

Several Honkers starters sat out the first game and Colusa took advantage by using its height at the net to take a one-game lead.

Cheyenne Rogers had three kills and a block while Katie Mobley made two kills to control the net in the first game.

The RedHawks won the first set but Willows was back to full strength for the next three games, all Honkers wins, 22-25, 25-7, 25-20, 25-17.

"For whatever reason we were excited and played really well our first game and Game 2 two came out, I don't know if we were cocky coming off the win in Durham, we just shut down," Colusa coach JayAnne Saso said.

Willows scored the first seven points of the second game and used nine aces to even the match at one game apiece with a 25-7 victory.

Colleen Tade served four aces and made two kills in the second game. She finished the match with seven kills, five aces, a block and made 26 assists.

"They're a talented team, they can serve anywhere so it's hard to make sure you're ready to go," Saso said.

Colusa pulled ahead 9-8 in the third set on an ace from Rogers, but a team effort from Willows turned the momentum back in the Honkers' favor.

Megan Hughes served four aces and Ally Brunner made four kills during the third game. Brunner finished the game with eight kills, six aces and a block.

Willows coach Carol Martin pointed to Hughes as a top performer against Colusa. Hughes led the team with eight aces and three blocks, and tied for the team lead with eight kills.

"(Hughes) passes great so that always is a positive," Martin said.

The RedHawks led 6-1 in the fourth game but once again the Honkers' proficiency from behind the line sent Colusa's players scrambling to return serves.

Willows (23-6, 2-0 Sacramento Valley League) outscored Colusa 24-11 the rest of the game and Erika Click ended the match with a kill. Click finished with six kills and five aces.

Rogers led the RedHawks with six kills, two aces and a block. Emily Mobley made four blocks and three kills, while her sister Katie Mobley added three kills, three aces and a block.

CONTACT Kirk Barron at 458-2121 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.