Douglas ‘machine’ routs Green Valley, grabs title

RENO -- After finishing as the Class 4A state runner-up last season, Green Valley's girls volleyball team was hoping to take the next step this season.

Those hopes will have to wait another year.

Douglas had an answer for every challenge the Gators could muster in a 25-20, 25-9, 25-15 win in the state championship match Saturday at Bishop Manogue.

"I think Douglas is a very well-prepared team, and they're like a machine out there," Green Valley coach Erin Hill said. "They were the better team, and that's a well-earned state championship, and we congratulate them all the way."

The Gators mounted multiple charges, but Douglas (31-2) thwarted them all. The Tigers continued to feed senior hitter Renna White -- who totaled 13 kills -- on the left corner, and she came up with a kill almost every time the Gators (28-10) seemed on the verge of rallying.

"I thought there were a couple of points even in the second game where we were going to turn it around," Hill said. "The second game we came out on fire, but Douglas was the stronger team."

With Douglas leading 6-3 in the second set, White pounded consecutive kills to start a Tigers run, then drilled another to give Douglas a 13-5 lead.

The Gators started the third set with renewed resolve, but White again led the response. Her spike keyed an 11-3 run that allowed Douglas to pull ahead 13-5, and Green Valley never got closer.

The Gators had trouble with their attack, in part because setter Jenna Swaffer had to scramble for the ball to feed her front line. After amassing 57 digs in a semifinal against Bishop Manogue, the Gators totaled only 16 against Douglas.

Douglas coach Suzi Townsell said her team was focused on stopping outside hitter Emma Johnson, who had keyed the Gators' win against Manogue with 19 kills. Johnson had eight kills Saturday, and Nikki Drost led the Gators with 11.

"Erin does a great job with her team, and her team volleys and moves and does not give up," Townsell said. "We saw them at the (Las Vegas Invitational), and our parents and everybody were impressed with them because they keep the ball in play."

CLASS 1A

Pahranagat Valley coach Ginger Whipple figured Coleville would give her team trouble in the Class 1A state championship match.

What the Panthers gave her instead was domination. Pahranagat Valley had little trouble getting past the Wolves, storming to a 25-20, 25-14, 26-16 sweep.

"(I didn't expect) quite the total domination we had," Whipple said. "I expected a little bit more out of them, because yesterday we saw them totally handle Tonopah with their defense."

The Panthers (24-7) shut down the attack by Coleville (24-3) with effective play from the back row en route to winning their second straight state title.

Dakota Day led the Panthers with 12 kills, and Halie Lewis and Kyla Mortensen each had nine kills. Bailee Hosier keyed the strong effort in the back row with 10 digs, and Lewis and Alyssa Higbee had eight each.

CLASS 2A

Makenna Lommori had 14 kills, four aces, 20 assists and two blocks as Yerington (36-1) posted a 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17 win over Whittell (14-19) for its fourth title in five years and first in 2A.

The Lions won three consecutive Class 3A titles from 2006 to 2008 before losing to Truckee in the title match in 2009.

CLASS 3A

Truckee claimed its second consecutive 3A state championship with a 25-15, 21-25, 25-20, 28-26 win over Dayton.

Annie Reiswig had 18 kills and Krysta Murphy 12 to lead Truckee.