CARLIN — After overcoming a slow start, the McDermitt High School volleyball team found its groove on Friday afternoon in Carlin.
The Lady Bulldogs swept a pair of matches from the Railroaders 25-13 and 25-14 and 25-19 and 25-20 to improve to 3-4 in the Eastern 1A and keep their regional playoff chances alive.
Carlin scored the first five points in the first set in the opening match, but it was all McDermitt after that. The Lady Bulldogs went on an 11-1 run from there and cruised the rest of the way. Precious Masters got the run started with a kill and Jasmine Smart added two kills as well. In between Smart’s two kills, Morissa Bitt added an ace.
Carlin cut the gap to 13-10 at one time, when Masters followed with a kill and McDermitt quickly pulled away for a 20-11 lead. The Railroaders hurt themselves with a number of errors.
McDermitt’s serving proved to be a strength in the second set, collecting aces from Katelyn Crutcher and Smart. The set was tied at 4-4, when the Lady Bulldogs went on an 11-1 run to pull away.
Smart added a couple more aces late in the set and McDermitt capped off the win with a kill by Bitt.
It was much of the same in the first set of the second set, as McDermitt scored the first six points and eight of the first 10 and did not trail. Masters had a pair of Kills during the run, and Kalli Sam and Smart also added kills.
The Railroaders did cut the deficit to 9-7, when the Lady Bulldogs pushed the advantage back 19-12 after an ace by Shania Lenoir. However, errors by McDermitt allowed the Railroaders to 20-18 late in the set.
The Railroaders could not cut further into the lead and on the next point had a serving error to push the lead to three points. Sam followed with consecutive aces to help put the set away for the Lady Bulldogs.
Carlin took an early lead in the second set, but Masters did her best to keep McDermitt within striking distance. The junior had two kills and an ace that tied the set at 8-8.
McDermitt took the lead for good at 10-9 and quickly built a 19-12 advantage after an ace by Lenoir. The Lady Bulldogs won the match on a hitting error by the Railroaders.
Owyhee and Eureka are currently the top two teams in the Eastern 1A. Wells, McDermitt and Jackpot are battling for the final two playoff spots for the regional tournament. Wells and McDermitt have split matches this season.
McDermitt travels to Jackpot on Friday for a doubleheader. The regular season concludes on Thursday, Oct. 26, in McDermitt against Owyhee.
The playoffs will be in Reno at Wooster High School.
