LOVELOCK - From the onset of the season in mid-February, it was clear that the Winnemucca Junior High School seventh-grade volleyball team was the clear-cut favorite in the Tri-County League this season.
The Warriors (6-2 overall, 6-0 Tri-County) won all of their league matches by double figures, including the final two this past Friday afternoon at the Tri-County Championships in Lovelock. Winnemucca beat the hosts, Pershing County, 25-8, 25-8 and 25-11 and concluded the year with a 25-12, 25-9 and 25-10 victory over Battle Mountain.
"This was just a great group of girls to coach and you could see from the start they had the athleticism and the ability to play volleyball," said WJHS head seventh-grade coach Mary Kay Pace. "I had a great time with the girls and it was nice to get back in coaching. I enjoy starting at the beginning and building a program."
In its matchup with Battle Mountain, Winnemucca's Madison Montero started off the first set with an ace and it was all Warriors the rest of the game and match. Winnemucca built a 4-0 advantage off a kill by Kenadee Miller and extended the margin to six points after an ace by Brooklyn Backus and kill by Amaya Herrera.
Montero added her second ace of the set to give the Warriors a 16-7 lead and later a kill by Alanna Miller and a hit by Kenadee Miller sealed the first set win.
Winnemucca scored eight of the first 10 points in the second set, but Battle Mountain closed within five points at 10-5. However from that point on it was all Warriors, as a tip by Tiana Herrera began a 15-4 run that closed out the game. Winnemucca doubled up Battle Mountain 16-8 after a dig by Hannah Hillyer, which was followed by three aces by Tiana Herrera and a hit by Brooklyn Waller.
The Shorthorns' only lead of the match came in the third set by scoring three of the first four points, but the short rally did not last. The Warriors quickly answered with a hit by Kenadee Miller and an ace by McKenna Jones to tie the set at 3-3. Winnemucca took its first lead at 4-3 on a tip by Amaya Herrera and pulled away on the strength of four aces by Backus.
"That was fun to watch Brooklyn in that stretch," Pace said. "She was getting the ball over perfectly and Battle Mountain was having trouble receiving it."
Leading 13-5, Montero picked up two kills to increase the advantage to 18-7, which was followed by an ace by Alanna Miller. Winnemucca went on to score five of the final seven points to sweep the match.
"They are still learning at this level and I was proud of how the girls played," added the coach. "It is amazing to see them now compared to when we began the season. Everyone contributed in one way or another. It was very competitive in practice and it helped us to play our eighth-graders as well."
In the opening match on Friday, Winnemucca held Pershing County to eight points in each of the first two games before the Colts were able to get in double figures in the final game.
"We hurt ourselves with some serving errors and gave away a few points there," Pace said. "We had a little more errors than I would like us to have had. But the girls never got down or quit and always kept a positive attitude going."
Olivia Silva and Waller were Winnemucca choices for the all-tournament team. Battle Mountain's Liscet Diaz and Yulisa Vazquez and Pershing County's Maddy Christiansen and McKenzie Burke were also named to the all-tournament team. Battle Mountain finished second in the league this season and Pershing County was third.
"I am super proud of the girls and enjoyed every day with them," Pace said. "This was a good group to work with and they all get along well. They are great students and not one time did I have a problem with them. It is sad the season is over, I would like to have a few more weeks with them and see what they can do."
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