I-A VOLLEYBALL: Crusaders top Chargers, punch ticket to state

Ever since last season’s loss in the state semifinals, Faith Lutheran’s girls volleyball team has had one mission.

Winning the title in 2013.

The Crusaders cashed their ticket to state on Thursday, with an impressive 25-11, 25-9, 25-8 win over Clark in the semifinals of the Division I-A Southern Region Tournament at Chaparral.

Despite losing five starters from the 2012 squad, the Crusaders are perhaps the hottest team in the area, winning 17 of their last 18 matches.

“Ever since that last point at state, getting back to the tournament has been on the player’s minds,” Faith Lutheran coach Amy Fisher said. “I told them following the win that now you can go for the top seed, or be happy that you’re there.”

If Thursday’s play is any indication, then Faith Lutheran won’t take its foot off the pedal.

The Crusaders (24-12) won nine of the first 10 points in the first set and never looked back in taking the victory. The second set opened with two kills each from Cayla Nikodemus and Courtney Hansen as Faith Lutheran scored 10 of the first 11 points.

Clark (14-13) did score the first two points of the third set but the Crusaders answered with seven straight and Faith Lutheran rolled from there.

“We were very focused tonight,” Fisher said. “Losing so many players from a year ago and having this kind of success speaks volumes about this team.”

Nikodemus led the way for Faith Lutheran with 16 kills and seven digs. Hansen added 11 kills, six aces and eight digs. Megan Panikkar had 20 assists and six digs, and Nicole Thompson had three aces and seven digs for Faith Lutheran.

Faith Lutheran will meet Boulder City in the region final at 4 p.m. Friday at Legacy.

Boulder City 3, Pahrump Valley 1 — Whitney Barlow had 28 kills as the Eagles defeated the Trojans, 25-16, 20-25, 25-13, 30-28.

“It feels much better this year than after last year’s bitter loss,” Boulder City coach Cherise Hinman said. “Our hitters were up and down tonight, but when we needed key points, our players came through. Hopefully a tough match like this will help us against Faith Lutheran.”

Boulder City (22-9) jumped out early in the third set and never looked back. In the final set, the Eagles had three match points before finally prevailing.

Shayla Dance had seven blocks, and Mikayla Davis added six blocks for Pahrump Valley (18-17). Bryana Soliwoda added 12 assists for the Trojans, who lost to the Eagles for the second time this season.

Kendall Miller had 35 assists for Boulder City, and Kaylin Koltyerhan added 23 digs for the Eagles.