DIVISION I VOLLEYBALL: Longhorns make good on coach’s promise, take title

All Ray Lewis ever wanted was a shot at running his own volleyball program.

So when the former Arbor View assistant coach was given the opportunity to take over Legacy’s program in 2013, he promised his troops that by buying into his philosophy they could bring a state championship to the North Las Vegas school.

The Longhorns made good on Lewis’ promise Wednesday night, as they defeated Las Vegas 25-18, 25-20, 25-18 to win the Division I state championship at Legacy.

“I believe everything happens for a reason, and me landing here was fate,” Lewis said. “Landing with these kids and these athletes that bought into our system, they play hard and work hard every day, I couldn’t have been luckier.”

Led by Tanner Compton, who finished with 19 kills, four digs and three blocks, the Longhorns seized control early in the first game, and never relinquished the momentum.

“Hard work and countless hours the team and (coach Lewis) have put in, and it’s been our goal for two years,” Compton said. “Coach came in and instilled that mentality into us. If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be anywhere we are today. It’s been countless hours of intensity and preparation for this one goal. We’ve been working forever for this. I’m speechless.”

Ahead by just a point in the first game, the Longhorns scored five straight points behind Compton’s serving to go up 14-8. The Wildcats closed the gap at 16-13, but Compton’s tear-drop kill fired up the home crowd and ignited another run, as Legacy eventually opened up a 19-13 lead and cruised to the first set.

The second set was much of the same, as Legacy responded to a 9-8 deficit with a six-point swing to take a 14-9 lead and steal the momentum once again. The Wildcats closed the gap to one, at 19-18, but a four-point spree gave the Longhorns breathing room en route to the second set.

The state finalists exchanged points throughout the first half of the third set, with the lead never getting bigger than three points until Legacy went on another 4-0 run to go up 15-10 and begin its final run to the championship. Feeding off a couple of miscues, including a service error, Zaire Franklin ignited his team and the crowd with a pair of monster spikes to give Legacy leads of 17-12 and 19-13.

“The team tells me to go out there and do what I do, and they just get me going,” Franklin said. “I laugh off every point that I mess up and then keep going.”

Jonah Tarlton added a nifty kill to give the Longhorns a 20-14 lead and it was quite evident where the game was headed when Trent Compton knocked Las Vegas’ Shayne Marquez off his feet with a power bomb that upped the lead to 23-18.

Trent Compton had 13 kills and four dig and Braden Liu had 39 assists, three digs and two kills. Franklin contributed five kills, and five digs and Tarlton added four kills and two blocks.

“From the beginning of the season, there was a mutual understanding that state was a goal,” Lewis said. “They were willing to play the roles they were given. This is a rare group of kids here, because day-in, day-out they work hard; there’s no ego involved. Not one person has to be the best player, on any given night, we can have a new best player.”