Petaluma’s volleyball staff emerged victorious in a key league showdown Thursday night time, beating Classic in a five-set thriller on the Trojans’ house campus: 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25 and 15-13.
The win elevated the Trojans (6-1, 15-5) right into a tie for first place atop the Vine Valley Athletic League standings with the Crushers (6-1, 10-7), who got here into the match undefeated in league play.
“We had the vitality; we simply wanted to search out it,” Petaluma head coach Amy Schwappach stated of her staff. “I assumed we got here out and executed within the first two units, obtained a bit again on our laurels within the third set, however we modified our rotations within the fifth set and it labored.”
FINAL | Petaluma 3, Classic 2
The Trojans get it executed! They take the fifth set, the match and are actually tied for first atop the VVAL standings. Remaining rating: 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 15-13 #PDPreps pic.twitter.com/JYnEL0gqQs
— Kienan O’Doherty (@kodoherty22) September 26, 2025
After falling to Classic in three units earlier this season in Napa, the Trojans got here out sizzling in Thursday’s rematch. Lucy Walling (9 kills, seven blocks) had two blocks within the first six factors to offer Petaluma a fast 4-2 lead. It might shuttle from that time on, however Petaluma gained a 24-21 benefit and finally closed out the primary set on a Walling serve.
Classic settled in and began out rather a lot higher within the second set. Grace Geitner had a few huge blocks that put the Crushers up 10-7. That lead elevated to 13-9 earlier than Petaluma went on a 7-2 run a number of factors later to take a 17-16 lead.
Petaluma’s Mischa Pendleton (27 kills) compelled an error on the set level because the Trojans took a 2-0 lead.
However Classic, the returning North Coast Part Division 4 champion, wasn’t going away straightforward. The Crushers took a good third set 25-23 earlier than main by as a lot as 10 whereas cruising within the fourth to tie the match at two units apiece.
Heading into the deciding fifth set, Petaluma raced out to a 5-1 lead because of the large serving of Emma Schwappach. Classic obtained near narrowing that benefit however finally couldn’t shut the hole because the Trojans gained the decider 15-13 and obtained the victory.
“I assumed the defensive effort was nice tonight,” Schwappach stated. “Once we introduced in Vivian (Phan) these final two units, she did a fantastic job at proper again selecting up these energy ideas. Our serve-receive was additionally wonderful tonight, and we did a extremely good job within the center again and left again as all the time.”
Petaluma subsequent heads to Sonoma Valley on Tuesday night time to proceed league play, whereas Classic will host the Dragons on Thursday.
You may attain Employees Author Kienan O’Doherty at 415-887-8650 or kienan.odoherty@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @kodoherty22.
