By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Volleyball team played two matches last week,
The first match was at Del Sol on Monday, Sept. 21. The Pirates continued their winning mentality in that match, as they won decisively over the Dragons in just three sets.
All sets were won pretty one-sidedly. The team put up incredible stats in this match: most notably Aria Messer’s 22 assists and one ace. In a three-set match, Coach Mandie Matheson says this statistic is a perfect example of how the Pirates were able to set so well.
“Our setter made good decisions,” Matheson said.
Matheson went on to say that the team played good defense and was ready for the unpredictable balls.
In a roller coaster of a season so far, some may wonder what to expect from the team later in the season. Matheson wanted fans to know to “…watch for us in November. We plan to be playing for the division title.”
She says the team plans to get better and better each week, and that they have so far.
As for a few other notable stats in this game, Shelbi Walker had 5 kills and 8 aces, and Eden Whitmore had 6 kills and an ace as well.
The second game of the week was undoubtedly the most crucial and intense match of the year so far. Not only was this a rivalry game against the Virgin Valley Bulldogs, but both of these teams are playing at the top of their game and expect to make a playoff run.
In the first set, Moapa fell by a score of 25-20. Then, the Pirates took control with back to back victories by scores of 25-22 and 25-19.
In the fourth set the Bulldogs turned the tides with a dominant 25-11 victory, taking the wind out of the Pirate sails.
The match was then decided by a winner-take all set 5. In this final set, Virgin Valley continued their momentum, and stormed by the Pirates by a score of 15-10.
Shelbi Walker had 10 kills, and in the words of Mandie Matheson, demonstrated “fierce serving.” Dannika Gordon also had 13 digs.
“We knew they were tough this year, and I felt we handled them well until the fourth game,” Matheson said. “Then we allowed too many errors and their hitters took control.”
“We look forward to improving those areas,” Matheson added. “We need to better match our strengths with theirs and look forward to seeing them again in three weeks.”
That matchup will be on October 15, and you can bet that the Pirates are looking to seek vengeance on the Bulldogs’ home court.
