Close call for Del Norte

Senior Kristen DeBacker leaps for the ball during a game against Hoopa at home Tuesday night. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Del Norte won the contest 23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-6 and 15-8 to improve to 3-2 for the year.

“It was really bad the first two game and it was really good the last three,” co-head coach Pablo Lorenzi said.  In the end, Lorenzi said, it came down to having a better attitude, not worrying about losing, and just going out and having fun, which is what sports is supposed to be about, especially on the high school level.

After coming off a loss to Brookings-Harbor at home last week, the Del Norte Warriors came out quite flat against the Hoopa Warriors.

Del Norte lacked any spark, hitting balls into the net and letting balls easily drop on their side for scores as Hoopa capitalized and took the first two games in front of a stunned Del Norte crowd used to the home team dominating things.

“We were like zombies,” Lorenzi said. “We were just  standing there lifeless.”

It was like a totally new group of Del Norte Warriors on the court as they took game three 25-20. Game four was even more dominating as Del Norte seemed to gain energy as the game went on while Hoopa started to falter. Up 18-1 at one point Del Norte cruised to a 25-6 game four win.

In these two games the Warriors dominated in all aspects of the contest, from passing to hitting and seemed to be having fun on the court, smiling, laughing and enjoying the game of volleyball.

Senior Lexie Nelson watches the ball during Tuesday’s game. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

While Hoopa cut it to 10-7 at one point, Del Norte remained composed enough to earn the 15-8 game five win to take the contest.

Co-coach Debbie Lorenzi commended senior Kristen DeBacker for coming back from lackluster play in the first two games to be a spark for Del Norte with her play.

“She found her rhythm,” Debbie Lorenzi said.

She also praised senior Lexie Nelson for her play and the way she went up to the net to block shots and  hit the ball.

Debbie also said that Caitlin O’Reilley and Brilynn Welch were excellent on defense and made key digs.

Del Norte next plays at a tournament in Red Bluff on Friday and Saturday and will not  return for a home game until Oct. 13 against fellow Big 5 Conference opponent Arcata.

 In the JV  contest Del Norte fell to Hoopa in three games.