By BOB SNELL
The Progress
After spending last year as an independent in its inaugural season, the Virgin Valley High School boys volleyball program can now sit at the big boy table.
The Bulldogs have paid their dues and are now officially a member of the 3A South competing in the Desert League.
Virgin Valley went 10-8 overall last season playing mostly schools from the 3A South. But, as an independent, the Bulldogs were not allowed to participate in postseason play.
That all changes with membership into the 3A South club.
“It’s exciting to be officially a 3A member,” VVHS head coach Kortney Tobler said. “We’re looking forward to playing in the Desert League. We’re ready to go.”
The Bulldogs will return the majority of last year’s squad, graduating just two seniors.
“Even though most of our kids return, we are quite young and inexperienced,” Tobler said.
The popularity of the program in just its second year has grown as Tobler welcomed 39 boys out for tryouts. Virgin Valley will field all three teams – varsity, JV and B. There were 18 players out for the B team.
Tobler says she will keep around 26 players for all three teams.
“We have a competitive group that loves to play,” Tobler said. “They are ready to compete when we put them in.”
The Bulldogs opened play in the Arbor View Invitational last weekend in North Las Vegas and played at Del Sol in Las Vegas on Monday. The Bulldogs will play their home opener Wednesday, Mar. 6 against Valley of Las Vegas at 6 p.m. inside the VVHS gymnasium.
The team will wrap up the week playing Founders Academy in Las Vegas on Friday before having next week off for Spring Break in the Clark County School District.
Tobler said she’s excited for the upcoming season.
“The boys have been working hard and have put the time in,” Tobler said. “We held our own against some of these teams last year. I’m expecting good things this year with this group. Looking forward to the season.”
In the Arbor View tournament, the Bulldogs played six matches and finished the two-day tournament 1-5 overall against teams from Arizona, California and Nevada.
VVHS defeated Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara, California, 2-0, by scores of 25-22, 25-22. Destry Tobler had six digs and four kills for the Bulldogs with Nate Panjaitan recording 19 assists and seven digs. Bryant Denninghoff added seven kills and Andrew Muniz eight digs.
The Bulldogs fell to South Pasadena, Calif. 25-12, 25-17 and to American Leadership Academy of Gilbert, Arizona 25-12, 25-18 on the first day of the tournament.
VVHS lost to Desert Oasis of Las Vegas, 2-1, on Saturday by scores of 25-18, 21-25 and 12-15 and to Del Sol 25-18, 25-18. They wrapped up play by dropping a match to Somerset Academy-Sky Pointe, 2-1, by scores of 25-21, 16-25 and 6-15.
