SMALL SCHOOLS: Experienced Eagles edge past South Tahoe

Boulder City girls volleyball coach Cherise Roe had been waiting for her team’s experience in the Class 3A state tournament the past two years to pay off.

It finally did, and in a big way, Friday night.

After squandering a two-set lead, the Eagles held on for a 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 20-18 victory over South Tahoe in a state semifinal at Silverado.

Boulder City (29-7) has won the past three Southern League tournaments, but will play for its first state title since 1989 against Truckee at 4 p.m. Saturday at Chaparral.

“They took us for a ride tonight,” Roe said of her players. “That was a heart-stopping match, for sure. This is huge, because it’s been hard to get (to the final).”

Eliza Jeppsen’s kill gave the Eagles a 19-18 lead in the fifth set, and they clinched the win on a hitting error by South Tahoe.

Whitney Barlow had 21 kills and five blocks for Boulder City, and Avalon Frantz had 36 assists and three blocks.

Ali Rants had 40 digs for Boulder City, and Jeppsen tallied nine kills and 22 digs.

Boulder City’s Mallory Bird supplied nine kills, Alexa Lister added five kills and seven blocks, and Katie Robbins tallied three kills and six blocks.

Drew Norberg had 26 kills for South Tahoe, which saw an 18-17 lead in the fifth set slip away.

“We’d played several tight matches, and I think that gives them the experience they need when they get in here,” Roe said. “Plus, we’ve been (to state) twice before, so they know the excitement. They’re ready to get to the state championship, and ready to win it.”

Truckee 3, Churchill County 1 — Annie Reiswig had 22 kills, including one that broke a 23-23 tie in the fourth set, to lead the Wolverines to a 22-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-23 win over the Greenwave (23-11).

Karlie Mohun had 17 digs for Truckee (22-9), and Brittany Thomas had three aces.

CLASS 2A

Whittell 3, Calvary Chapel 1 — At Silverado, Megan Mize had 13 kills and two blocks as the Warriors beat the Lions, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 25-11 and advanced to meet Yerington in the championship at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chaparral.

Darby Reeder added eight kills for Whittell (26-11), and Nina Jimenez dished out 25 assists.

Deja Harris paced Calvary Chapel (30-11) with 19 kills and three blocks. Brettani Davis had 50 digs and six kills for the Lions, and Brooke Davis contributed 28 assists and 21 digs.

The Lions couldn’t hold on to a 17-11 lead in the second set, and were unable to climb out of the 2-0 deficit.

With only one senior, Brettani Davis, Calvary Chapel won its first 2A Southern League regular-season title since 2002  and took the league tournament.

“I’m incredibly proud. We have one senior on our team, and we’re excited about our future,” Lions coach Nick Davis said. “Brettani was the heart and soul of our team. Without her, I don’t know if we get this far.”

Yerington 3, Lincoln County 0 — Makenna Lommori racked up nine kills, 10 aces, 11 assists and 12 digs as the Lions (35-6) rolled past the Lynx (18-14), 25-6, 25-10, 25-11.

Brooke Aiazzi had five kills and eight digs for Yerington, which scored the first 12 points of the match.

CLASS 1A

Tonopah 3, Coleville 1 — At Chaparral, Deanna VanPoucke racked up 10 kills, six blocks and two aces to help the Muckers rally past the Wolves, 23-25, 25-10, 25-20, 25-22 in a Class 1A semifinal.

Alli Friel added 14 assists and five kills for the Muckers (26-11), who will face Pahranagat Valley (32-2) in the final at noon Saturday at Chaparral.

Lela Gnuse paced Coleville with 12 kills, and McKayla Stokes dished out 19 assists.

Pahranagat Valley 3, Sierra Lutheran 0  — Kimberly Lewis had 21 assists, two blocks and two aces to help the Panthers roll past the Falcons, 25-10, 25-12, 25-17.

Halie Lewis supplied 21 kills and five digs, and Kyla Mortensen added five kills, five digs and five aces for Pahranagat Valley.

Tiffany Patrick had six assists and three kills for Sierra Lutheran (22-13).