VEGAS INVITATIONAL: Suprisingly-youthful Gators advance to semifinals
Green Valley’s girls volleyball team is used to having plenty of senior leadership on the court, but the Gators started two sophomores and a freshman Saturday in the Las Vegas Invitational at Las Vegas High.
That may not be such a bad thing, though.
The Gators finished the two-day tournament 6-1, losing in the semifinals of the 40-team event.
Westlake (Calif.) topped the Gators, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13 in the semifinal match.
In a bizarre end to the tournament, Douglas claimed the title without playing a championship match; Westlake, one of six teams from California in the tournament, forfeited to the Tigers to catch an early flight home.
Despite playing with a youthful roster, Green Valley coach Erin Hill felt her team represented itself well.
“I felt our weaknesses were exploited a bit as the tournament went on,” Hill added. “Our passing went awry at times and our ball control suffered. I think we tired a bit.”
Coronado also advanced to the semifinals of the top bracket. Douglas downed the Cougars, 25-14, 25-22 to earn in its spot in the final.
“This is a good starting point,” Coronado coach Matt Johnson. “We are improved this season over last season at the same point.”
Alexa Drost and Nikki Drost represented Green Valley as all-tournament selections. Coronado’s Katie Gamsky, Bishop Gorman’s Kylie Shaw, and Sierra Vista’s Morgan Malone and Allison Herold also earned all-tournament honors.
Sierra Vista took home the Silver Division title, besting Golden Valley (Calif.) in the championship match, 25-15, 25-22.
In other matches in the tournament:
Reed 2, Faith Lutheran 1 — Reed captured the championship of the Bronze Division by outlasting the Crusaders, 25-18, 21-25, 15-7.
Kelsey McCourt dished out 27 assists for Faith Lutheran. Vanessa Sigman added eight kills, and Chelsea Kronschnabel contributed 11 assists for the Crusaders.
Faith Lutheran 2, Durango 0 — McCourt distributed 23 assists in the Crusaders’ 25-19, 25-8 sweep of the Trailblazers.
Taylor Hammer had seven kills and Vanessa Sigman added six kills for Faith Lutheran. Kronschnabel tallied six digs.
Faith Lutheran 2, Basic 1 — Paige Henderson racked up 14 kills as the Crusaders rallied for a 23-25, 25-14, 15-13 win over the Wolves.
McCourt supplied 30 assists, Kronschnabel had 14 digs, and Lindsey Frangas added eight kills for Faith Lutheran.
Faith Lutheran 2, Arbor View 0 — Taylor Richards’ eight kills and three aces allowed the Crusaders to notch a 25-13, 25-17 win over the Aggies.
McCourt added 11 assists, and Kronschnabel had seven digs for Faith Lutheran.
Faith Lutheran 2, Sylmar (Calif.) 0 — McCourt registered 17 assists, and Kronschnabel had 11 digs in the Crusaders’ 25-19, 25-23 victory.
Richards, Hammer and Frangas each added five kills for Faith Lutheran.
Lake Mead 2, Cedar (Utah) 0 — Megan Watkins had 12 assists, nine digs and three aces as the Eagles topped the Redmen, 25-19, 25-22.
Ashley Newton added eight kills and six digs, and Heather Hillenbrand registered six kills and seven digs for Lake Mead.
Carson 2, Lake Mead 0 — The Senators were 25-16, 25-17 winners over the Eagles.
Watkins had 10 assists and four digs, and Newton added nine kills and five digs for Lake Mead.
Golden Valley (Calif.) 2, Lake Mead 0 — Golden Valley posted a 25-16, 25-15 victory over the Eagles.
Watkins dished out seven assists for Lake Mead. Newton added six kills and four digs, and Anny Liston contributed six digs for the Eagles.
