WINNEMUCCA - Following its loss to Churchill County in Fallon last Tuesday, the Lowry High School freshmen volleyball team practiced with only five players the next two days as sickness has sidelined almost the entire Lady Buckaroo volleyball program.
When it came to its home match on Friday against South Tahoe, Lowry put out the minimum six players on the floor - some in unfamiliar positions. Despite all the issues in front of them, the Lady Bucks easily defeated the Vikings 25-14 and 25-10.
"I had to switch some girls around with everyone being so sick," said LHS head coach Mandy Chaffin. "But the fact that they could come together tonight, play new positions and play together, I am so proud of them. Everything that we worked on in practice paid off tonight. We were humbled a bit in Fallon, so it was nice to come back and get a win."
The Lady Bucks (5-1 Division I-A North, 8-3 overall) raced out to a 7-0 lead in the opening set and never looked back. Lowry's serving wreaked havoc with South Tahoe's defense as Tiana Herrera, Aimee Brandon and Aushina Townsend added aces to build the Lady Bucks' advantage to 13-4. Annaleise Gabica followed with a kill to stretch the lead to 10 points and forced South Tahoe to call timeout.
The Vikings closed to within seven points at 21-14, but Herrera closed out the set with three consecutive service points, including two aces.
The Lady Bucks picked up a block and ace from Gabica and a kill by Brandon and an ace from Townsend to build an 8-3 lead in the second set. South Tahoe kept the set close at 10-6, but Herrera began a 7-2 run with back-to-back kills. Her twin sister, Amaya Herrera, closed out the spurt with an ace.
Leading 17-9, Lowry scored eight of the next nine points to close out the match.
Tiana Herrera led the Lady Bucks with three kills, while Gabica had two kills and Brandon one. Amaya Herrera added three aces and Brandon and Townsend each had two aces.
"The girls came together and played as a team," Chaffin said. "It was fun to watch them when they play like that. They have made so many strides since the start of the year. That was probably the best I have seen them play all year."
Lowry is back at home today when it hosts Elko at 4 p.m. The Lady Bucks beat the Indians in a tournament in Truckee at the beginning of the season.
"I am looking forward to see how we do against Elko," Chaffin said. "Our confidence level is through the roof. Elko has a great freshmen team. They will be ready for us after we beat them in Truckee."
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