Las Vegas rallies past Rancho to claim sole Northeast League lead

Volleyball is a game of momentum.

Combine two teams on seven-match winning streaks, and that momentum becomes electric.

Las Vegas and host Rancho entered Thursday with 5-0 records in Northeast League play, but after a series of momentum-shifters and high-energy plays, the Wildcats kept their perfect record intact, holding off the Rams, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13.

“I thought that was a superb match. In any match like that, it’s a shame there has to be a winner and a loser,” Las Vegas coach Sue Thurman said.

“Rancho played really well. Our boys fought hard in the end, but both teams wanted to win — there were people running into the walls and into the stands. There were some really tremendous, athletic plays on the court.”

Braeden Wilson led Las Vegas (7-2) with 18 kills and 15 digs, and senior James Joseph’s eight kills and three blocks kept the momentum for the Wildcats.

“Whenever we do something good on the court, you just get super excited, and everyone rallies around that,” said Joseph, a 6-foot-4-inch middle hitter. “I’m just focusing real good on myself, putting the ball where it needs to be.”

The emotional Joseph kept his team together through Rancho’s second- and third-game rally.

“He brought a lot of emotion,” Thurman said. “He’s a role player, and he does his role: he’s in there to make big blocks and take an area of the court. And tonight, he opened up offensively for us, which was absolutely huge.”

Las Vegas bolted to a 10-4 and won the first game when Daniel Wynn served four of his game-high six aces.

But senior outside hitter Antonio Boucher wouldn’t let Rancho (7-3) fade in the second game, notching two aces during a five-point streak. Boucher finished with 16 kills and four aces.

The third game featured 11 ties and four lead changes. Boucher’s six kills and Adam Johnson’s four helped the Rams hold on for the three-point victory. Johnson finished with 12 kills.

“I’ve been telling people since last year that Rancho is going to be a team to beat, and a lot of people scoffed at that,” Thurman said. “Rancho is a legitimate team, and a legitimate program, and anyone that would take them lightly would be foolish.”

The Wildcats scored five of the last seven points, including three straight by Joseph, to win the fourth game.

Senior Matt Hagan made a diving save, and Wilson made a crushing spike during the fifth game to keep alive a Las Vegas streak, and the Wildcats held on.

Luke Hansen compiled 40 assists and six kills for Las Vegas, and Tyler Wilson added 16 digs and four kills.

Kamran Baig had 30 assists for the Rams, and Kevin Plascencia added five kills and two aces.