Warriors handle Huskies in 4 games

Del Norte High senior Kristen DeBacker, right, hits the ball during a game against Fortuna Tuesday night. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Del Norte downed the Huskies 21-25, 25-11, 25-20, 25-19 to improve to 5-1 in the conference and 14-10 overall.

With the win the Warriors maintained first place in the Big 5 with two games remaining.

Kristen DeBacker led the  Warriors with 22 kills, while the entire team stepped things up after an off first game. 

The team’s seniors were honored before the contest. Senior members of the Warriors are Debacker, Lexie Nelson, Paula Rhodes and Katie Rinkevicz.

Del Norte hoped to have a better game than their last meeting with the Huskies when they fell in three games in Fortuna.

Things did not start off well at all as Del Norte dropped the first game 25-21 in front of a stunned home crowd.

Things got a lot better for Del Norte when they returned to the court for the next game.

In the second game it was as if another team showed up for Del Norte as things started to click in a hurry.

The Warriors leaped out to a 13-4 lead as the Huskies had no answer for the Warriors’ attack as Del Norte cruised to the 14-point victory.

“We were far more aggressive,” Lorenzi said, adding he was especially pleased with the way his team passed the ball and played defense. In game three  the Huskies kept things fairly close but the Warriors were able to take control in the end for the five-point win.

In game four the Huskies trailed only 16-14 before the Warriors went on a run to take the game 25-19.

Lorenzi commended juniors Vanessa Alexandre and Brilynn Welch for their top-notch play on defense, and said both made their fair share of terrific dives for the ball.

Nelson had eight kills and two blocks for kills for the game for Del Norte.

Kylee Bruder had two kills and three blocks for kills while   Kristen Rook had four kills and three blocks for kills.

In the junior varsity games the Warriors lost to the Huskies 21-25, 24-26.

The Warriors finish the regular season with away games. On Thursday they face Arcata and on Tuesday they complete the regular season at McKinleyville.

Both games begin with the junior varsity contest at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity game following.

If the Warriors win the final two games they will earn their 21st straight league title.

If they drop a game the likely scenario is they will co-share the league title. And if they drop both games it likely means Del Norte’s title streak will be snapped.

Lorenzi said that as they have done all season the team is not worrying about earning another title and are taking things one game at a time.

 He said the team must continue to play together as a team, focus, and not look past anyone.

“We are not so dominant that we can go out and take someone for granted,” Lorenzi said.