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Ready To Volley For A State Championship

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

PHOTO BY VERNON ROBISON/Moapa Valley Progress.

Coming off of a phenomenal season last year, the Moapa Valley Volleyball team is hoping to take themselves even further. With a generally young team, combined with a few returning players who helped take last year’s team to the state championship, the play on the court will be as exciting as ever.

Head coach Mandie Matheson starts the year with a firm focus on being the best defensive team possible.
“Our focus this year is a lot on defense,” Matheson said. “My expectation is that we are the best defensive team in the state for the 3A. That’s where our focus is right now. We’re going to put the work in to being a defensive force to be reckoned with.”

While the team’s defensive prowess will be crucial, their other evident strength will come through teamwork, says Matheson. “Our greatest strength will come as a team,” she said. “We have athletic girls and girls with a high volleyball IQ, but we’re going to win and lose as a team. That’s where we have a step up from other schools is our team mentality. We don’t have one player to carry us. It’s going to be a team effort from start to finish.”

Matheson believes that the combination of experience and inexperience will help bridge the gap between the various players on the team. “We have four girls who were all on the team last year and went through that experience and some of them have had it in basketball and softball as well,” Matheson said. “It’s not going to be anything that’s new. They know it’s not just going to be given to them and the expectations from the coaches will be there.”

Perhaps the most important aspect of this year’s team is the determination to continue Pirate volleyball’s legacy. The team has been in the state tournament for back-to-back seasons and has yet to close the gap on the championship trophy. While the odds are stacked against them, based on Matheson’s assessment of her team’s willpower, it’s far from impossible.

“Their work ethic will show,” Matheson said. “The sky is the limit for them. It’s a little cliché but they have the ability to reach the potential of any team before them and even beyond. There are certainly going to be other teams that are physically bigger than us but we have our sights set and they’re hungry.”

Matheson said that there are plenty of areas for the team to work on. “We definitely have spots to adjust and have to figure out our most effective way to beat people with our new talent coming in,” she said. “We have a lot of expectations and the girls are super hungry. We’re not nervous. We’re confident and excited to see where it takes the team.”

From around the state, fans of high school volleyball know the Moapa Valley Pirates now. With two consecutive state title appearances, all that’s left is a ring on the finger for Coach Matheson and her veteran players. These incloude Shyanne Matheson, Abbie Evans, Emilie Barraza, and Alex Peay.
Peay, Barraza, and Matheson headline the crew of returning seniors while Evans will take control in the net after being one of the team’s best blockers last year.

The departure of senior talent like Eden Whitmore and Shelbi Walker will be keenly felt. But ultimately it is the turning of a new era for Pirate volleyball.

The team hopes to keep the Pirate dynasty rolling forward into future years.
And based off of talent and passion alone, it seems possible.

The Pirates aren’t leaving the headlines yet when it comes to Nevada state volleyball. It would be a top story to see a team overcome expectations and adversity like the Pirates of 2018 will face. As last year’s second place looms over their heads, Moapa Valley looks forward at first. Perhaps this year their headline includes a state banner.

It’s going to be a fun season of Pirate volleyball, once again.

Varsity Volleyball 2018 Season Schedule

Aug 24/25 TBA Dixie Flyer High
Aug 28 5 PM Pahranaghat
8/31-9/1 TBA High Sierra Tourn.
Sep 7 5 PM SLAM
9/14-15 TBA Durango Fall Cl.
Sep 17 6 PM Bouler City
Sep 20 5 PM Pahrump
Sep 25 6 PM Sky Pointe
Sep 26 5 PM The Meadows
Oct 02 6 PM Sunrise Mtn.
Oct 04 6 PM Virgin Valley
Oct 08 6 PM Chaparral
Oct 10 6 PM Boulder City
Oct 16 6 PM Sky Pointe
Oct 18 6 PM Chaparral
Oct 22 6 PM Sunrise Mtn.
Oct 24 6 PM Virgin Valley
10/30-11/03 Regionals
11/09-11/10 State North

Home games in bold
Schedule subject to change without notice

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