2A HONORS: Libero Davis leads Lions in league, state awards
Replacing a senior backrow volleyball player doesn’t seem like too difficult of a task.
One person out, one person in. Sounds easy.
Except when that one senior is a first-team all-state honoree, the Class 2A Southern League’s co-Most Valuable Player and a Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record holder.
And that’s the dilemma for Calvary Chapel coach Nick Davis as he tries to replace libero Brettani Davis, who led the Lions to a Southern League title and a state playoff berth. Brettani Davis and The Meadows’ Alex Hall were the Southern League’s co-MVPs and two of the three players from the South to earn first-team all-state honors.
“Last year we lost half of our team, and I wasn’t sure how we would replace it, but we did,” Nick Davis said. “I’m not sure that this isn’t tougher. It’s only one person, but I don’t know how we replace her.
“I think we make the playoffs this year if we don’t have her, but we don’t win our league and I’m not so sure we go to state.”
Standing only 5-feet-2-inches tall and spending most of her time in the back row, Brettani Davis was still the team’s most dangerous weapon, simply because she stopped other teams from scoring.
“I had a couple of coaches tell me that she beat them,” Nick Davis said. “For a coach to say that about a defensive player, that’s just amazing.”
Brettani Davis, who registered 50 digs in the state semifinal against Whittell, and totaled 523 digs this season — both top marks in the NIAA record book — was the player who turned defense into offense.
She finished her career with 1,560 digs, also a state record.
“She stalks the other team’s hitters,” Nick Davis said. “She reminds me of a defensive back. She would just shut down half of the court. She has a knack for doing that. You can’t coach it; you can’t teach it. It’s just there.”
Brettani Davis also rattled off 108 aces this year, but maybe her biggest contribution was providing a steadying hand on the floor as the only senior on a roster dominated by sophomores and freshmen.
“She’s more of a quiet leader,” Nick Davis said. “By the end of the year, the team wanted to win just for her. That says a lot about her.”
Lincoln County’s Nicole Florence also earned first-team all-state honors.
Yerington’s Makenna Lommori was named the MVP of the all-state team after leading her squad to the state title.
Nick Davis and Whittell’s Nate Byrne shared coach of the year honors.
The All-Southern League first team was rounded out by: Calvary Chapel’s Deja Harris and Brooke Davis; Lincoln County’s Nicole Florence and Tia Florence; Lake Mead’s Shelbie Lewis and Taylor Vetter; The Meadows’ Nikki Leonardson; and Needles’ Holly Laswell.
