The Meadows gets boost with wins over Lake Mead
Most teams coming off a state championship and riding a league winning streak of more than a year aren't in need of a confidence boost.
But that’s exactly what defending Class 2A champion The Meadows’ girls volleyball team earned Thursday with a crucial 25-21, 25-23 and 17-25, 25-19, 15-13 sweep of visiting Lake Mead.
The Mustangs (20-3, 6-0) took sole possession of first place in the 2A Southern League and continued their 20-match win streak in league play.
“It’s a huge confidence boost for us,” Mustangs coach Stephanie Heller said. “We still haven’t touched on our potential of where we can be. Offensively, we still have a lot of work to do.
“It’s just day-to-day of getting better and knowing that there’s a goal out there of defending the conference title.”
The Meadows took a big step in that direction with the sweep of last year’s 1A state runner-up Eagles (16-11, 5-2).
With a 14-9 lead in the decisive third set of the second match, the Mustangs struggled to score the final point. Lake Mead closed to within 14-13 before The Meadows’ Jackie Lipkowitz struck down a kill to end the match.
The Mustangs rallied to win both sets of the first match, coming back from a 12-7 deficit in the first and climbing out of a 9-5 hole in the second.
In the first set of the second match, Lake Mead squandered an early 11-6 lead in falling behind 14-12, but Ashley Newton hit three kills in the final six points to win, 25-17.
But the Mustangs rallied from 7-3 down in the second set to win, 25-19.
Heller was impressed with her team’s mental toughness and its ability to come back.
“The toughest part of the game is teaching the mental side of it,” she said. “It’s such a momentum game that any great server can get back there and get on a roll for three or four points. Mentally, last year our team finally found that groove of recognizing how to stop runs.”
Senior setter Vanessa Hall led The Meadows with 12 assists and five digs in the first match and 21 assists, 13 digs and three kills in the finale.
Kathryn Chakmak tallied six kills in the first match and added 10 in the second for The Meadows, and teammate Sinead Lopez contributed nine digs in the first match and 26 in the second.
Senior outside hitter Newton paced Lake Mead with 17 kills, 12 digs and four blocks in the opener before ending with 14 kills, seven digs and two blocks in the nightcap.
“(Newton) is amazing. The ball comes at her and you know it’s going to be played well,” Lake Mead coach Diana Lewis said.
Heather Hillenbrand added five kills and nine digs in the first match and nine kills, and four digs in the second for the Eagles. Teammate Megan Watkins totaled 24 assists on the day.
In its first year at the 2A level, Lake Mead entered the day riding a five-match win streak.
“I’m very pleased with the way we played,” Lewis said. “We have time to work. We probably have one of the best offenses in the league. We just have to improve on defense.”
