By Mike Donahue
Moapa Valley Progress
BOULDER CITY — A mere seven points spread over three heart-stopping games in the Boulder City High School gym last Friday is all that prevented the Moapa Valley High School Lady Pirates varsity volleyball team from going to state finals this year.
In a division championship match that kept nearly 200 raucous fans on the edge of their seats for an hour, the Pirates dueled a see-saw battle with the Boulder City Eagles in each of three games, but fell just short of winning. The Eagles took the match 25-22, 25-23 and 26-24.
Taking second in the division was an outstanding comeback for the Pirates who two weeks prior lost to both of their division rivals including the Virgin Valley Bulldogs and the Eagles.
“Moapa Valley gave us a much better game this time around,” said Boulder City Coach Cherise Row. “They’ve almost always had strong program and it really showed tonight.”
Mandie Matheson, Moapa Valley coach, said that although her team’s performance fell slightly short, the close games were indicative of the outstanding heart with which everyone on the team played nearly all their matches this year.
“They were really hungry in their desire to win,” Matheson said. “They played their hearts out. Unfortunately, I think they realized just a little too late how great they really are. They served tough and it (the loss) was just a few plays difference (from a win) over the entire match.”
In was a heartbreaking finish for the Pirates who earlier in the afternoon whipped the Virgin Valley Bulldogs in a four-game match 25-20, 20-25, 25-19 and 25-19
“We spent a whole day earlier in the week preparing for the Bulldogs,” Matheson said. “Today they did everything we asked of them. They served tough and came out and took care of business.”
At one point in the fourth game against the Bulldogs the Pirates were down several points after battling neck-and-neck, but a strong kill by Shelbie Grey sparked a rally that took the team home to a great finish.
Virgin Valley Coach Ilona Robison said the Pirates came out to win and it showed. The Bulldogs, too, showed tenacity and refused to quit until the final point.
“Overall I think everybody (with the Bulldogs) did great,” Robison said. “We only have three seniors this year so a lot of the team will be back next year. Heidi Lister, Alora Bonner and Nikki Arquette all played a really great game. They’ve kind of been leaders through the year and they kept it up today.”
Significant statistics for the Pirates in the Bulldogs game include Emma Eira with 13 kills; Malary Reid, eight kills and seven aces; Summer Owens, 11 digs, and Shelbie Gray, 6 kills.
Significant Pirate statistics in the Boulder City game include Eira, 10 kills; Reid, seven kills, three aces, and Makenzey Staley, three aces.
