Confidence carries Lake Mead to win

Lake Mead finally beat Pahranagat Valley in last season's Class 1A state championship volleyball match after scuffling for years against the girls from Alamo.

The confidence gained by breaking through against their biggest rivals on the brightest stage is evident in this year's Eagles.

Top-seeded Lake Mead calmly survived a few tough rallies by Pahrangat Valley in Saturday's Southern League title match to down the second-seeded Panthers 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 and earn the top berth to next week's state tournament at Silverado.

Lake Mead coach Diana Lewis stood silently on the sideline as her team battled out of a 23-all tie in the second game and a six-point deficit in the third game. There's not much to say to a group of girls making its third straight trip to state together, even when it falls behind and has to come back.

"I can't tell you how many games we were down last year. Sometimes I think they do it on purpose because they want to play that cat-and-mouse game," Lewis said with a laugh. "I told them they're giving me too many gray hairs."

Eagles outside hitter Amanda Wellman said the players benefit from having spent so much time playing together, allowing them to relax in tight situations.

"I think it's more along the lines of every single (person) here, except for one freshman, has been to state, been to regionals," Wellman said.

The Panthers also advanced to the state playoffs by qualifying for the region finals. Pahranagat Valley defeated Tonopah 25-7, 25-12, 25-16 earlier Saturday in the semifinals to clinch a state berth.

Lewis believes her team is greatly improved from earlier this season and is playing its best right now.

"That's one thing I was really concerned about," Lewis said. "I wanted to make sure we were getting as strong as other teams. I think (we) proved that here today."

Wellman totaled 22 digs, 14 kills and four aces. Ashley Newton recorded 19 kills and 12 digs, and Jocelyn Cox tallied 31 assists and eight digs for the Eagles.

Lake Mead easily defeated Henderson International 25-1, 25-5, 25-12 Saturday morning to reach the region finals.

• CLASS 2A -- Lincoln County outlasted The Meadows 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 16-25, 15-12 to claim the 2A Southern League title.

Lincoln County survived a scare from third-seeded White Pine in a semifinal match that went the distance, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-10, and then turned around minutes later to play The Meadows, which was undefeated in league play.

Lynx coach Ken Thornock credited his team's strong conditioning for allowing it to put together strong back-to-back matches.

"We're in phenomenal shape," Thornock said. "We work hard every day. It says something about their courage, about their tenacity."

The Meadows still advances to the state playoffs, though, in a semifinal match against the Northern Region champion. The Mustangs earned the berth by defeating fourth-seeded Calvary Chapel 25-16, 25-20, 25-20 in Saturday's semifinals.

Marissa Smerek put down 13 kills to lead the Lynx.

Laura Walsh totaled 14 kills and Vanessa Hall 33 assists for The Meadows.