If the Battle Mountain High School volleyball team wanted to keep its playoff hopes alive it would need have to won one of two matches it hosted this past weekend for Homecoming.
In the first meeting this year with Silver Stage, Battle Mountain lost in four sets to the Nighthawks. The Lady Longhorns nearly let that happen for a second time on Friday night.
Battle Mountain easily won the first set 25-16, dropped the second 25-23, won the third 25-17 and lost he fourth 25-15. Unlike the first time, Battle Mountain hung on to win the fifth and final set 15-12.
Battle Mountain jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first set after an ace by Isabella Deallah, two kills by Kira Smith and a block by Brooke Ripley. A kill by Uliana Willingham increased the gap to 19-12 and the Lady Longhorns never looked back.
The second set was tied three times, the last at 8-8. Battle Mountain claimed an 11-9 lead but saw that vanish on an 8-0 run by Silver Stage. The Nighthawks led 24-18 but missed a serve, which led to five straight points. An ace by Sarahi Jimenez closed the gap to 24-23, but Silver Stage scored the final point.
It was just the opposite in set three, as a kill and ace by Drue Domagala gave the Lady Longhorns a 17-9 lead. Deallah added a block later in the set and Battle Mountain cruised to the win.
The back-and-forth match continued, as Silver Stage dominated the fourth set, keeping Battle Mountain from winning the match. The Lady Longhorns were able to grab the momentum back in the fifth set and secure the win.
Deallah had a team-high eight kills, while Ripley added five. Addi Slaybaugh, Domagala and Smith each had three kills.
Domagala and Jimenez each had five aces and Deallah and Willingham added six and three blocks, respectively. Jimenez had seven digs, Julia Ramirez and Domagala each had six digs and Domagala added a team-high 27 assists.
BMHS falls to Yerington in three sets
Battle Mountain hosted Yerington on Saturday afternoon and lost in three sets 25-18, 25-15 and 25-8.
Deallah, Willingham and Slaybaugh had four kills apiece for the Lady Longhorns. Jimenez had a team-high eight digs.
Battle Mountain is back on the road this weekend to play Incline on Friday and North Tahoe on Saturday.
