WINNEMUCCA - Playing on its home floor for the first time this season, the Winnemucca Junior High School eighth-grade volleyball team turned out a 25-19, 25-23 and 25-23 win over Fallon on Tuesday afternoon.
The Warriors (3-1 overall, 2-0 Tri-County League) lost to the Greenwave in their first match of the season. While Winnemucca is in just the second week of matches, Fallon's season came to an end on Tuesday night.
"The girls played very well today and looked excellent today," said WJHS head coach Miranda Santos. "I was very impressed with their coverage, passing, hitting and everything they did. We have come a long way in just the two weeks we have been playing."
Winnemucca opened the match with two straight points, including an ace by Darrion Iturriaga to start the match. The Warriors built a 10-3 advantage on the strength of four straight points, beginning with a kill by Payton Naveran. In between two aces from Jillian Albright, Caitlynn Cooper added a kill.
Fallon answered back with five consecutive points to cut the gap to 10-8, forcing a Winnemucca timeout. Out of the break, Naveran added another kill to stop the run. The Warriors pulled out to a five-point lead at 17-12 off an ace by Iturriaga and kill by Juliana Velasco.
The Greenwave closed the deficit to two points at 17-15 but the Warriors reeled off the next four points to take control of the game. A kill by Iturriaga finished off the opening game for the Warriors.
Winnemucca took the momentum into game two, as Albright served the first seven points for the early advantage. Fallon closed the gap back to three points at 8-5 before the Warriors went on a 7-3 run, capped off by an ace by Naveran.
Fallon rallied once again to trim the margin to 17-15, but Winnemucca pulled out to a 22-18 lead after a tip and kill by Naveran. The Greenwave trailed 22-20 late in the game but served the ball into the net, giving the Warriors a three-point lead. However, Fallon scored the next three points to tie the game. Winnemucca then scored the final two points, including the game winner, when Fallon hit the ball into the net.
The Greenwave controlled the third and final game right to the end, when Winnemucca came back for the victory. Fallon scored five of the first six points and led 19-13 in the late going, when the Warriors started their comeback. Winnemucca scored three points in a row to force a Fallon timeout, but the run continued with an ace by Velasco.
The Warriors took their first lead of the game at 23-22 after two consecutive aces by Lindsay Pate. The duo of Sierra Thiede and Naveran blocked a Fallon kill at the net for the winning point.
"You can't end a match any better than that," Santos said. "Payton and Sierra got up above the net and it was a great block. They had some nice hands and read it great. Fallon has always been tough for us to beat, so it was a good win."
Winnemucca opened its Tri-County League schedule on Friday, March 2, in Battle Mountain and came away with two easy wins. The Warriors beat the host Shorthorns 25-6 and 25-7 and the Colts 25-15 and 25-11.
In the first game with Battle Mountain, Ashlee Barron served 10 straight points and Iturriaga had a strong serving performance in game two. The coach added that Albright served well in the Pershing County match.
"We have been doing a good job with our serving and that was key for us and always is," said the coach. "I feel I can put any girl in at any time and let them serve for us. That is what I did in the third game against Fallon. I wanted to put the girls in different positions and let them play and prove that they can play any position out on the floor."
Winnemucca plays host to the Tri-County on Saturday, with action beginning at 9 a.m. The season comes to an end in Lovelock on Friday, March 16.
"It would be nice to get the girls some extra matches," Santos said. "We just have two weeks left in the season and when they are starting to peak the season is over."
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