Wildcats capture state title

With a strong supporting cast playing off star Jonathan Dugan, Las Vegas High School's volleyball team upstaged Centennial on Wednesday at Silverado to win the state title.

Wildcats coach Sue Thurman credited the Bulldogs' crowd for motivating her squad to its 26-24, 26-24, 25-22 victory.

"Jonathan gets that chant, 'You can't stop him,' " Thurman said. "Well, somebody had a hitting error, and (Centennial fans) started with the chant, 'You have no help!' That's when Aaron Wittig started getting kills, when (Ridge Kanet) started getting blocks. Everybody really got fired up."

Las Vegas' act certainly wasn't a one-man show.

In the first game, 6-foot-1-inch Jordan Hamilton scored three blocks and two kills among the Wildcats' last eight points while facing the Bulldogs' front line of 6-6 Drew Stakker and 6-4 Blake Davidson.

In Game 2, Kanet logged three kills and two big blocks.

Still, it was Dugan who shone the brightest.

The senior outside hitter closed out Games 1 and 2 with kills that banged the 10-foot line.

Dugan had seven of his match-high 20 kills in the third game, including some that fell just over the outstretched arms of the Centennial big men.

"I've never been the tallest guy, so I have to use my brains a little bit when I play," Dugan said. "I use those smart shots, and then when they think I'm going to hit it, I just tip. This year, I learned that tips are the same stats in the newspaper -- no one knows the difference."

By playing the angles, Las Vegas (19-5) exploited a Centennial block that had its way against Coronado's powerful outside hitters Tuesday. The Bulldogs' play at the net led to 70 digs in the semifinal victory.

But the Wildcats got creative in the championship match.

Las Vegas, which defeated Palo Verde in the state semifinals, zigged when Centennial (20-5) thought it would zag. The Wildcats went opposite when the Bulldogs set up on the other side. They let up when they should have killed.

"We've known since the beginning of the season that they throw up big blocks all day," Hamilton said. "But it's not smart just to go head-up with the block when you don't have an angle. With big blocks, there's always going to be a spot open -- they have their weak spots.

"And we found them."