By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
Last year’s season for the Moapa Valley High School Volleyball team was a success in the eyes of many. Sealing a playoff berth and finishing the season with a winning record made Pirates fans proud all across the valley.
But that was far from the end of the road. Moapa Valley is looking now to take that next step towards a state title. And this could be the year.
In order to get to that point the team needs to focus on constant improvement, says Coach Mandie Matheson.
“We have to just get better every day,” she said.
If Moapa can do just that, there’s no doubt they have the firepower to make it back to the playoffs and perhaps even further, she said.
Expectations are high for the volleyball team this year. Matheson seems to be confident in this team’s potential.
“I expect us to be playing for state this year,” Matheson said. “We have the talent and work ethic; we just have to take those small steps to get better every day.”
It’s a long road to get to the point to where you are competing for a banner. For Moapa, that journey starts with an August 28 matchup against Yerington.
Yerington won the State Championship last season in the Division III. It will most definitely be a competitive contest.
There is still plenty to improve on prior to the season. Specifically, Matheson said passing is something Moapa Valley still needs to work on in order to contend.
“We need to find the chemistry on the court and make sure that dynamic is working,” she said.
Matheson praised the team’s depth and labeled it as one of the strongest aspects of their game. “We’re deep in every position,” she said.
This is a quality that is guaranteed to benefit the Pirates in tough games. The Varsity team has players that range from sophomores to seniors, though there is only one senior, Summer Evans. Evans will be a powerful influence to the Pirates’ success.
This very well could be the season Moapa Valley claims that championship title. If so, it would be their first since 2003, when they won their 12th consecutive championship.
The talent is there, and Coach Matheson reassured that the work ethic and depth is present as well, so the team and fans are filled with optimism. The season is just around the corner. The journey starts now for the Pirates, and it’s guaranteed to be a season to watch.
Varsity Volleyball 2015 Season Schedule
Aug. 28-29 Yerington Tourn.
Sep 03 6:00 Pineview
Sep 10 6:00 Cheyenne
Sep 16 6:00 Eldorado
Sep 17 6:00 Desert Pines
Sep 21 6:00 Del Sol
Sep 24 6:00 Virgin Valley
Sep 29 6:00 SECTA
Sep 30 6:00 Chaparral
Oct 05 6:00 Sunrise Mtn.
Oct 07 6:00 Boulder City
Oct 08 6:00 Desert Pines
Oct 13 6:00 Del Sol
Oct 15 6:00 Virgin Valley
Oct 19 6:00 SECTA
Oct 21 6:00 Chaparral
Oct 22 6:00 Alamo
Oct 23/24 TBA Longhorn Inv.
Oct 27 6:00 Sunrise Mtn.
Oct 29 6:00 Boulder City
Nov. 3-7 TBA Regionals
Nov. 13 TBA State South
Nov. 14 TBA State South
Home games in bold
JV Volleyball 2015 Season Schedule
Sep 03 5:00 Pineview
Sep 10 5:00 Cheyenne
Sep 16 5:00 Eldorado
Sep 17 5:00 Desert Pines
Sep 21 5:00 Del Sol
Sep 24 5:00 Virgin Valley
Sep 29 4:00 SECTA
Sep 30 5:00 Chaparral
Oct 05 5:00 Sunrise Mtn.
Oct 07 5:00 Boulder City
Oct 08 5:00 Desert Pines
Oct 13 5:00 Del Sol
Oct 15 4:00 Virgin Valley
Oct 19 5:00 SECTA
Oct 21 5:00 Chaparral
Oct 23/24 TBA Green Vly. Tourn.
Oct 27 5:00 Sunrise Mtn.
Oct 29 5:00 Boulder City
Home games in bold
