The Lady Pirates volleyball team had a strong week, securing a home victory against Pahrump and claiming the consolation bracket title at the Island Classic in Las Vegas.
In their first home match of the season last Thursday, the Lady Pirates defeated the Pahrump Trojans in four sets, with scores of 25-9, 25-9, 18-25, and 25-14. Senior Sofia Hammond delivered an outstanding performance, tallying 23 kills, 2 aces, 1 block, and 8 digs. Claire Cox contributed 15 kills, while Sienna Neilson added 10. Setter Phoebe Leavitt was crucial in setting up the offense, recording 45 assists. Additionally, Alexa Reese and Leavitt each served 3 aces, and Cox and Neilson each had 7 digs on defense.
Head coach Mandie Matheson expressed her satisfaction with the team’s effort. “I was overall pleased with the girls’ performance,” she said. “Pahrump played with a lot of energy and was very physical at the net. Our girls served with fire and played with great intensity.”
Despite dropping the third set, Matheson praised the team’s resilience. “Pahrump fired back after losing two sets and put extra pressure on us in the third, resulting in a loss for that set. But the girls responded with a decisive victory in the fourth set. I was proud of how they came out and performed.”
The following day, the Lady Pirates competed in the Aloha KOA Island Classic at Liberty and Coronado High Schools. During Friday’s pool play, they lost to Coronado and Galena but managed to defeat Rancho. On Saturday, they narrowly lost to Doral Academy in a close three-set match, placing them in the consolation bracket. However, they bounced back to win their final two matches against Rancho and Spring Valley, clinching the Division 2 consolation bracket championship with a 2-0 victory over Spring Valley, 25-18 and 25-23.
Reflecting on the tournament, Matheson said she was pleased with the team’s play but acknowledged there was still work to be done.
The Lady Pirates now hold an 11-4 record for the season, with a 2-0 league record, putting them in first place in their league alongside Virgin Valley, who previously defeated them in non-league play. The team is currently ranked second behind Fernley in the Nevada 3A standings.
The Lady Pirates will face Cheyenne on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m.
