Experience pays off for Boulder City

Boulder City girls volleyball coach Cherise Roe had been waiting for her team's experience in the Class 3A state tournament the past two years to pay off.

It finally did Friday, in a big way.

After squandering a two-set lead, the Eagles held on for a dramatic 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 20-18 victory over South Tahoe in a state semifinal at Silverado.

Boulder City (29-7) has won the past three Southern League tournaments, but will play for its first state title since 1989 against Truckee (Calif.) at 4 p.m. today at Chaparral.

"They took us for a ride tonight," Roe said of her players. "That was a heart-stopping match, for sure. This is huge, because it's been hard to get (to the final)."

Eliza Jeppsen's kill gave the Eagles a 19-18 lead in the fifth set, and they clinched the win on an attack error by South Tahoe.

Whitney Barlow supplied 21 kills and five blocks for Boulder City, and Avalon Frantz contributed 36 assists and three blocks.

Ali Rants compiled 40 digs for Boulder City and Jeppsen tallied nine kills and 22 digs.

CLASS 2A

■ Whittell 3, Calvary Chapel 1 -- At Silverado, Megan Mize had 13 kills and two blocks as the Warriors beat the Lions, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 25-11, and advanced to meet Yerington in the championship at 10 a.m. today at Chaparral.

Darby Reeder added eight kills for Whittell, and Nina Jimenez dished out 25 assists for Whittell (26-11).

Deja Harris sparked Calvary Chapel with 19 kills and three blocks. Brettani Davis had 50 digs and six kills, and Brooke Davis contributed 28 assists and 21 digs.

The Lions (30-11) couldn't hold on to a 17-11 lead in the second set, and were unable to climb out of the 2-0 deficit.

■ Yerington 3, Lincoln County 0 -- At Silverado, Makenna Lommori racked up nine kills, 10 aces, 11 assists and 12 digs as the Lions (35-6) rolled past the Lynx (18-14), 25-6, 25-10, 25-11. Brooke Aiazzi had five kills and eight digs for Yerington, which scored the first 12 points.

CLASS 1A

■ Tonopah 3, Coleville (Calif.) 1 -- At Chaparral, Deanna VanPoucke racked up 10 kills, six blocks and two aces to help the Muckers rally past the Wolves 23-25, 25-10, 25-20, 25-22 in a semifinal.

Alli Friel added 14 assists and five kills for the Muckers (26-11), who will face Pahranagat Valley (32-2) in the final at noon today at Chaparral.

Lela Gnuse led Coleville with 12 kills and McKayla Stokes had 19 assists.

■ Pahranagat Valley 3, Sierra Lutheran 0 -- At Chaparral, Kimberly Lewis had 21 assists, two blocks and two aces to help the Panthers roll past the Falcons, 25-10, 25-12, 25-17 in the other semifinal.

Halie Lewis supplied 21 kills and five digs, and Kyla Mortensen added five kills, five digs and five aces for Pahranagat Valley.

Tiffany Patrick had six assists and three kills for Sierra Lutheran (22-13).