BENICIA HIGH’S Jessica Blakeman (left) and Karah Fisher celebrate a point against Fairfield.

First place in the Solano County Athletic Conference is on the line Thursday when the Benicia High varsity volleyball team hosts the Vanden Lady Vikings.

Undefeated Vanden is all alone in first place and handed Benicia (7-1 SCAC) its only loss back on Sept. 20, a 25-17, 26-24, 25-21 Vanden victory in Fairfield. But the Lady Panthers were without regular setter Karah Fisher, who injured her ankle in practice just before the SCAC opener. Fisher returned to action Tuesday night against Fairfield and helped the Lady Panthers cruise to a 25-3, 25-8, 25-7 win.

“I’m still kind of coming back, but I feel good,” Fisher said. “It was good to ease into it and play at a slower pace. I had to work out some kinks in this game because I hadn’t played for a long time, but I knew I’d get back into it pretty quickly.”

Benicia head coach Jamie Hadenfeldt was happy to get her junior setter back in time for Thursday’s crucial match against Vanden.

“Setting is a big deal,” Hadenfeldt said. “Having a good setter connection is important and they have to make hitters feel comfortable. Karah’s still not fully recovered, but it’s good to see her off the crutches. She did a really good job but still isn’t moving really well. She just needs to get used to the speed of things and make her sets consistent.”

Fisher had 20 assists against the Lady Falcons (1-7). Outside hitter Jessica Blakeman finished with a match-high 13 kills and Emily Maher added four kills. Other leaders for Benicia included Natalie Sluga (seven aces, four digs) and Amanda Ajari (five aces). Benicia had 20 aces overall.

No one’s been able to figure out Vanden this season. The Lady Vikings are 11-0 overall and have lost only one set all season.

“Vanden’s a really good team,” Hadenfeldt said. “They have a lot of firepower. We’re probably not as strong as they are offensively, but I think we’re a little bit better with ball control.”

Blakeman had only six kills the last time the two teams met. But with the addition of Fisher on the floor, Hadenfeldt thinks things could be different the second time around.

“If we can get a strong offensive performance from Jessica and if Kara is consistent with her sets, I think we can take it,” Hadenfeldt said.

“We’re going to have a lot of energy playing at home,” Fisher said. “I’m hoping to contribute as much as I can now that I’m back playing. Communication is always the most important part. We have to work together and bring out the best in each other.”

The Lady Panthers have won five straight SCAC volleyball championships. The Lady Vikings are looking for their first SCAC championship since 2010 when they went 15-0 in conference play.

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