Rebuilt Needles takes aim at powerful Lincoln County in Southern League girls volleyball tournament

Breanna Parker has seen plenty during her time as the girls volleyball coach at Needles (Calif.), although this season she experienced something new.

For the first time in her six seasons with the Mustangs, Parker was faced with a rebuilding process.

Needles graduated seven players from last year’s team that finished 21-5 and fell 3-2 to Whittell in the Class 2A state title match. But after struggling early on, the Mustangs won six of their final eight matches to qualify once again for the postseason.

No. 4 Needles (10-10) takes on top-seeded Lincoln County (20-9) in the 2A Southern League tournament at noon Saturday at White Pine High School in Ely.

The winner takes on either No. 2 White Pine (17-7) or No. 3 The Meadows (14-17) in the championship at 4 p.m. The top two teams advance to the state semifinals Nov. 14-15 at Damonte Ranch in Reno.

“It’s been a long, hard road, and the kids have had to work really hard,” Parker said. “I knew they were capable of becoming a good team and not just a rebuilding team.

“I just didn’t know if we would put it all together to pull out wins.”

Last year’s senior class had been with Parker since it was in the seventh grade — the group was coached by former Needles coach Teresa Sutton as eighth-graders — and captured four straight Southern League tournament titles.

However, Parker returned just three players with varsity experience this season, and the Mustangs endured plenty of growing pains.

“I learned young girls make mistakes and a lot of them,” Parker said with a chuckle. “I had to learn to be more patient.”

The Mustangs were inconsistent at the start of Southern League play, splitting with White Pine and West Wendover before Lincoln County swept them in a home doubleheader. But after beating Calvary Chapel in two straight matches, Needles split at home with sixth-place Mountain View.

“We had a big talk and made them see that if we dropped any more games we might not make the division playoffs,” Parker said. “I told them, 'I’m glad you love the game, and I’m glad you enjoy it, but it’s time to beat some people. It’s time to kick it in gear and want to win some games.’

“We have done so well the last four years, we didn’t want to let that down.”

Led by 6-foot-2-inch senior middle blocker Carri Walters, senior libero Kassie Carins and junior setter Haley Laswell, the Mustangs earned a road split at The Meadows and beat Agassi Prep twice to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Now Needles gets its shot at Lincoln County, which went undefeated in league play. Parker said her players jokingly have referred to Lincoln as the Patriots, in reference to the NFL team that was unbeaten last season before losing in the Super Bowl.

“They have come together at the right time,” Parker said. “If they play the way they can, it’s definitely possible to walk away with a win. At the same time, Lincoln is a very strong team.”

3A VOLLEYBALL — The 3A Southern League girls volleyball tournament begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Moapa Valley when the No. 1 seed and host Pirates (19-6, 5-1) play No. 4 Boulder City (16-13, 0-6). Second-seeded Faith Lutheran (22-13, 5-1) then plays No. 3 Virgin Valley (17-11-1, 2-4) at 5.

The title match will follow at 7.

1A VOLLEYBALL — The 1A Southern League girls volleyball tourney begins at 3 p.m. Friday at Desert Oasis when No. 4 seed Round Mountain (17-8, 6-3) plays No. 5 Lund (9-9, 5-4).

Other quarterfinal matchups are No. 3 Tonopah (20-5, 7-2) versus No. 6 Beatty (6-8, 4-5) at 4:40 p.m.; No. 2 Lake Mead (28-4-3, 8-1) versus No. 7 Trinity (5-13, 3-6) at 6:20; and No. 1 Pahranagat Valley (20-3, 9-0) versus No.  8 Henderson International (6-20, 2-7) at 8.

The semifinal matches will be played at 10 and 11:40 a.m. Saturday, followed by the title match at 2 p.m.