Miyahira powers Centennial past Las Vegas in state play-in match

Lacy Miyahira was staring the end of her girls volleyball career Monday.

The senior outside hitter from Centennial did something about it.

Miyahira had 14 kills, 16 assists, four blocks and three aces to help the Bulldogs rally past Las Vegas, 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-7 in a Class 4A girls volleyball state tournament play-in match at Chaparral.

“The difference between the second and third game was our intensity level,” Miyahira said. “I think we came out too confident in ourselves.

“I realized that could be our last game, so we just played our hearts out. We didn’t want to lose after that game, so we picked up the intensity and played like a team instead of individuals.”

Kaitlin Kelly added 12 kills, four aces and 15 digs, and teammate Kassidy Welte supplied 12 kills for Centennial (29-6), which fell to a two-set deficit despite leading 23-18 in the second set.

Kristi Farley added 31 assists and four aces for the Bulldogs, who got four blocks from Talia Barnes.

Neither team led by more than three points in the first set before Mattie Ventlling served two aces to key a 4-0 run that put the Wildcats (21-7) up 24-20. After two points by Welte and a block by Miyahira, Marissa Lair laid down one of her team-high 12 kills to give Las Vegas a 1-0 advantage.

“I’m kind of overwhelmed. But the final (set) score, that’s Bulldog volleyball,” Miyahira said. “That’s how we feel it should’ve been. I think the last three games we came back, and put up a fight.”

The Bulldogs edged the Wildcats after back-to-back emotional matches against Bonanza and Bishop Gorman last week in the Sunset Region tournament at Legacy, which Centennial coach Shannon Alia said may help explain the lack of finishing in the second set.

“We’ve had trouble with 23-18, or 22-17 the last couple of matches,” Alia added. “Gorman had us in the same point. We just can’t get past that number. But these girls battle. When it’s do-or-die, they need pressure. When it’s do-or-die, they step up. That’s really important.”

Centennial advanced to play Sunrise champion Green Valley (30-6) at 6:20 p.m. on Friday at Chaparral. Sunset champ Gorman (29-10) will play North champ Reed at 8 p.m.

Ventling finished with eight kills and five aces for the Wildcats.

Tiffany Jackson had 32 assists and five aces, and Desirae Lair contributed 10 kills and two aces for Las Vegas, which served 15 aces.