Pirate Advance To State As #2 Seed

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Volleyball team earned a second place finish in the NIAA Southern Regional tournament last week and will travel to Las Vegas to begin state tournament on Friday at Clark High School.

The Pirates played three games last week in the Regional tournament, winning the first two and advancing to the final round against Boulder City where they lost.

The quarter final game was played on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the MVHS gym against Clark High School. The Pirates beat the Chargers in three straight sets, 25-15, 25-15 and 25-16. MVHS senior Sydney Reese dominated with 20 kills and picked up 5 blocks. Sienna Neilson followed with 8 and Alyssa Jolley slammed down 6.

The semifinal was played on Thursday against SLAM, also at MVHS. It took four sets to beat the Bulls, 3-1.

SLAM won the first set 25-14 as the Pirates started cold. But the Moapa girls rebounded quickly with a 25-16 win in the second game to tie it at a game apiece.
The third set was tight as SLAM took a lead just before the Moapa student section brought the team to life, helping them to a 25-22 win.
The fourth set saw the Pirates dominate the Bulls 25-13.

After the match, MVHS Head Coach Mandie Matheson gave a special shout out to the student section for its support. “The awesome crowd that showed up to support us really pushed us to fight and secure the win,” she said.
The win advanced the Pirates to the championship match at Boulder City on Saturday.

The Eagles came into the match undefeated. Not only had they not lost a match, they hadn’t even lost a single set to anyone in the Southern 3A this season.

The Eagles are the favorite to win the state title. They had beaten the Pirates in three sets earlier in the season and they did the same on Saturday with a three game sweep: 25-11, 25-18 and 25-19.
“We had some moments this week that required us to make some unanticipated adjustments,” said Matheson. “The girls had to dig deep and fight as a team to win and compete. They have proven they have grit and determination and we are excited to get the opportunity to represent MVHS at state next week.”

The Eagles will enter the State Championship tournament this week as the #1 seed from the South. They will play Spring Creek, the second seed from the north, on Friday afternoon beginning at 4:30 at Clark High School in Las Vegas.

Spring Creek lost to Dayton in five sets on Saturday’s North Regional final game.
As #2 seed from the south, the Pirates will go up against #1 Dayton on Friday at 6:15 pm at Clark High School in Las Vegas.

The winners of the two semifinal matches will face off for the state championship on Saturday at Rancho High School beginning at noon.