By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
With Moapa Valley’s volleyball team roaring through the season with impressive consistency, the Pirates proved their dominance once again last week in games against division newcomer Sky Pointe and against SECTA.
The Pirates hosted the Hawks of Sky Pointe on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Sky Pointe, a relatively new school, had yet to meet the Pirate volleyball team. But they were given a hard introduction.
In the first set, the Pirates defended their home court with a dominant 25-3 victory, followed by a 25-4 win in the second.
The Pirates were led by serving from Shelbi Walker and Shyanne Matheson. Moapa
“The two of them just kept the pressure on,” said MVHS Head Coach Mandie Matheson. “Every time Sky Pointe got the ball back, we just took care of the ball and eliminated unforced errors. I’m very pleased with how they played.”
Moapa Valley would win in the third set by a score of 25-13; a bit closer than the other two sets, but still commanding.
The second game of the week came on the road against SECTA. The Pirates were their usual selves in that one as well. They played their best volleyball, despite a few mistakes early.
They beat SECTA in three sets, by scores of 25-12, 25-12, and 25-16.
Aria Messer had 31 assists. Eden Whitmore and Shelbi Walker led the way in kills, with 13 and 6 respectively.
“We had a few more errors in the first set than I would’ve liked to have seen, but the girls are playing with a lot of confidence and playing smarter,” Matheson said. “They overall did a really good job.”
While the two wins against the Roadrunners and Eagles were important for Moapa’s record, their focus at this point in the season revolves around a crucial game against Virgin Valley this Wednesday.
“We didn’t play as well as we felt like we could have when we played over there,” Matheson said. “So we’re excited to play them here at home and we’re ready to get some retribution.”
As the Pirates remain undefeated in league play, their focus is still set on working their way to a state championship. Matheson believes her team has what it takes for that. “My confidence in these girls has been strong from the very beginning,” she said. “They’re performing to the level we want them to. They’re doing great at keeping things in perspective”
The game against the Bulldogs will be crucial for the Pirates when it comes to picking up momentum with just two weeks until playoffs roll around. Moapa Valley will continue to set their sights on a championship trophy, but have a few more obstacles to face before they get there. How they handle it should be exciting to watch.
