Colusa spikers topped

The Colusa High volleyball team wrestled with a nasty case of triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13, through the first two games, and while it was able to get over it by the third game it was not enough to keep the Redskins from bowing to the visiting Honkers in three, 25-13, 25-13, 25-19 on Thursday.

The Redskins were plagued by a large number of service errors that kept them from holding serve and mounting many sustained rallies throughout the match, and also allowed Willows to stay on the attack.

Colusa's Caroline Meyers opened the match with a bang by flooring a kill and the Redskins had the early edge after Erika Avina threw down another and stuffed one at the net. Lexi Kraft also added a kill and an ace, giving Colusa a 10-6 advantage.

It would prove to be the last one they enjoyed, however, as Willows came back to take a one-point lead at 13-12. From there the Honkers rattled off the next 10 points with Carrin Lester at the service line for Willows. Four aces and a Lindsay Vantol kill later, the Redskins found themselves looking up at a 23-12 deficit. A Keara Tade kill accounted for point 13.

Willows stormed out to a 12-4 lead in the second game powered by three aces and three kills, and the Honkers serves and kills continued finding open floor. The Redskins never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

By the third game it appeared Colusa was shell-shocked as the Honkers served up four aces to take an early 6-1 lead. Frequent lapses in communication also allowed a few balls to drop to the floor untouched on the Colusa side of the net.

Avina notched three more kills and Kraft served up six successive points at one stage in the third game.

Colusa dropped to 0-2 in the Sacramento Valley League and 4-7 for the year.