Coming off a tough season in 2015, the Battle Mountain High School volleyball team had a chance to complete a comeback this fall that would put them in the Northern 2A playoffs.
A postseason berth came down to the wire on the final day of the regular season, as the Lady Longhorns hosted rival Pershing County this past Thursday night.
In a winner take all match-up, Battle Mountain came back from an opening-set loss to beat Pershing County 22-25, 25-23, 25-14 and 25-18 to finish fourth in the league at 8-6. The Lady Longhorns scored the first eight points of the first set, but watched as the Lady Mustangs came back to win it.
“I was pleased that the girls didn’t roll over and give it to the Mustangs after losing their 8-0 lead to start the first game and going on and losing it,” said BMHS coach Sondra Torgerson.
Liscet Diaz had two aces and Sarah Berumen a tip as part of the first eight points of the opening set. Pershing County responded with a 10-2 run to tie the set at 10, when McKenna Jones answered with a kill to put the Lady Longhorns back in front.
Pershing County jumped back in front at 15-12, when Battle Mountain reeled off five straight points, capped off by a kill by McKenna Jones. The Lady Mustangs returned the favor with five straight points and went on to win the set.
The two rivals traded points in the beginning of the second set and Battle Mountain took a 10-9 lead after consecutive kills by Riane Schroeder. The advantage was short-lived as Pershing County came back with a 10-5 spurt to go up 20-14.
The Lady Longhorns returned the favor with a 7-1 run to tie the set at 21 following a kill by Schroeder. Pershing County scored the next two points, but Battle Mountain came back with the final four points to even the match.
Battle Mountain took that momentum into the third set and scored seven of the first 10 points. Rogers had two kills midway through the set to increase the lead to 15-7 and the Lady Longhorns never looked back. Battle Mountain won the set, when a block by Pershing County hit out of bounds.
The Lady Longhorns raced out to a 12-4 advantage in the fourth set and never trailed. The Lady Mustangs closed the gap to four points on two occasions at 12-8 and 14-10, but never got any closer. Late in the set, Schroeder had a block and kill to put the match out of reach.
“We had a great crowd and lots of spirit which the girls responded well to,” Torgerson said.
Yulisa Vazquez had 23 assists, two digs, three kills, one block and one ace for the Lady Longhorns. Schroeder added 12 kills, two blocks and one assist, Jones eight kills, four blocks and six digs and Sammi Wilson had four digs.
Liscet Diaz finished with a team-high 13 digs to go with two aces, Jonni Davis six digs and one ace and Rogers four kills and one block, Isabella DeAllah contributed six digs, three kills and one assist and Berumen had three kills.
“We set a team goal to make it to zone and the girls and I are very happy that we met that goal,” Torgerson said. “Making the postseason is not only good for the current program, but also good for the other sports programs that the girls compete in.”
Battle Mountain travels to Fernley on Saturday for the Northern 2A Regional Championship. The Lady Longhorns will take on Yerington at noon. White Pine and Incline play at 2 p.m., with the championship at 4 p.m.
The two finalists advance to the state championships on Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, in Reno.
