Senior Dugan propels Wildcats into title match

The chant builds and builds, gathering momentum like a runaway train.

"You. Can't. Stop. Him."

The Las Vegas High School fans stomp their feet and clap their hands for him, putting all their hopes and dreams on his sturdy shoulders.

"Him" is Jonathan Dugan, and on Tuesday night in the state volleyball semifinals, no, Palo Verde couldn't stop the senior outside hitter.

Dugan had 26 kills and 26 digs in the Wildcats' 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 26-24, 17-15 win over the Panthers at Silverado, including six kills in a wild fifth game.

For the victory, Las Vegas (18-5) gets a matchup with Centennial to determine the state champion. The Bulldogs beat Coronado 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 27-25, 16-14 in the other semifinal.

The Wildcats roared back from an 11-6 deficit in the fifth game against Palo Verde (21-3), with Dugan's sixth kill giving his team its first lead at 16-15. When Panther Connor Metcalfe's hit bounced back onto the Palo Verde side for the deciding 17th point, Dugan fell to his knees, rejoicing.

"It's hard to believe when you're down five points in the fifth game, but we did," Dugan said. "Those last five points are the most important part of volleyball, and it was all of our team stepping up tonight."

With the way the Southeast Division Most Valuable Player performed, maybe he shouldn't be so surprised.

Dugan's 26 kills are one thing; Wildcats setter Danny Farias sets him well and sets him often, and Dugan frequently smashes the ball down. But his 26 digs revealed a unique aspect of his game -- his willingness to get down and dirty for each and every ball.

"You see him give more than you would think possible, and then he steps up and gives more," Las Vegas coach Sue Thurman said.

Dugan will need to bring his intensity to another level against Centennial in the state championship match, which will begin at 6 p.m. today at Silverado.

The Bulldogs (20-4) were superb on defense against Coronado (21-2), which came in with a 21-match winning streak.

With tremendous size at the net in 6-foot-6-inch Drew Staker and 6-4 Blake Davidson, Centennial almost negated the presence of the Cougars' heavy hitters, Eric Boman and Chris Austin.

"You don't lose that height," Bulldogs coach Scott Nelson said. "Late in the game, even though we were tired in that match, we were still able to put up our hands."

When they did, they tipped nearly everything.

Centennial's big men set the tone for near-perfect back row play, as the team finished with 70 digs, including 18 by Chey McDonald.

"I don't know if we neutralized them, but we controlled some balls with our block," Nelson said. "We knew going in that they had very strong outside hitters, so we wanted to set up a solid wall. But to have Chey throw out such a performance really created an opportunity for points."