If you did not know any better, one would have thought the 3A was playing its state volleyball championship on Wednesday night in Winnemucca.
Lowry High School made its home debut in front of a large crowd and raucous student section. Fernley came into town undefeated at 3-0 in league play, which included a five-set victory over Truckee, the defending 3A state champion.
The Lady Bucks handed the Vaqueros their first Northern 3A loss, winning 25-21, 25-22 and 25-23 to improve to 2-0 in league play and 9-5 overall.
“That was fun tonight,” said LHS coach Brandon Eastman. “That was a good team we played tonight — they are much improved. I was proud of how we played. You have to give credit to our home crowd and student section. The girls fed off their excitement.”
Fernley grabbed the early advantage, scoring the first four points of the first set, before Lowry could settle down. The Lady Bucks closed the gap to 5-4, after back-to-back kills by Brittany Jacaway. Lowry kept the deficit at 9-7 on a kill by Sierra Maestrejuan, when the momentum shifted moments later. Trailing by two points at 10-8, Kepa Bengochea sprawled to the floor for a dig that hit the top of the net and fell on the Fernley side of the floor.
Lowry took its first lead at 14-13, when the teams traded off the next eight points. During that stretch, Maestrejuan added another kill and Ana Ochoa had a block.
Julianne Montero gave Lowry the lead at 21-20 and Maestrejaun had three kills In the final four points to give the Lady Bucks the win.
“Sierra played great tonight,” Eastman said. “She places the ball well and only had one error. She’s just a sophomore but learning quick.”
The second set was just as close, with no team leading by more than four points. Lowry netted the first three points and maintained the advantage throughout the first part of the second set. Of the Lady Bucks’ first seven points, Maestrejuan and Jacaway each had two kills.
Fernley used a 7-2 run to take its first lead at 13-11, only to see Lowry quickly counter and go back in front 18-16. The back-and-forth battle continued as the Vaqueros tied the set at 18. Aided by a kill by Maestrejuan, Lowry scored the next three points, when Fernley countered with three consecutive points to tie again at 21. Maestrejuan provided a kill on the next point and Lowry was able to close out the set.
Like the first two sets, the third was just as close and thrilling. Neither team could pull away from each other. The Lady Bucks ran into adversity, when libero Kepa Bengochea went down with a shoulder injury. Volleyball rules prohibit changing the libero when the set starts. Lowry had to adjust its lineup. Bengochea went back in for a moment, but came back to the bench.
“I was ready to make Tailor (West) the libero the rest of the night,” Eastman said. “I was not going to chance it with Kepa. I just wanted to get the match over in three sets. I did not want to give Fernley a chance to get back in it.”
Fernley rallied to tie the set at 7-7, when Lowry reeled off seven straight points. In that stretch, Jacaway had a tip and a block. Once again, the Vaqueros fought back to tie the set at 19-19. A service error by Fernley gave Lowry the lead back at 20-19, but the set was tied again at 20 and 21.
Another service error by the Vaqueros gave the Lady Bucks the lead for good. Kyllie Sappington ended the night with a kill.
“We had some adversity in the set, but the girls played through in different spots,” Eastman said. “It was a great way to open on our home court.”
Lowry traveled to Fallon on Thursday and results were not available at press time. The Lady Bucks travel to South Tahoe on Friday and Dayton on Saturday, Sept. 23.
