Coming off two straight wins over Spring Creek and Elko, the Lowry High School volleyball team was looking to keep the momentum going, as it hosted Churchill County on Tuesday, Oct. 12, to start the second half of the Northern 3A East season.
When the two schools played the first time in Fallon, Lowry left with a win in five sets.
The second match was just as thrilling and back-and-forth, with Churchill County leaving Winnemucca with a 25-23, 25-22, 17-25 and 25-23 win.
With the loss, Lowry dropped to 8-8 overall and 3-3 in the Northern 3A East.
The first set of the night set the tone for both teams, as Churchill County raced out to a 5-0, only to see Lowry come back with seven straight points, including the last two on a block and kill by Mckenzi Petersen.
Neither team could pull away, as the set was tied at 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
The Lady Bucks took their largest lead of the set at 18-15, following a kill by Petersen, an ace by Megan Cook and a kill by Kailey Franklin.
Lowry led 21-19 but gave a point right back on a missed serve, which led to four straight points by the Greenwave. After a Churchill County miss hit, the Greenwave closed out the set with two straight points.
The second set played out much like the first, with Lowry taking a 5-3 lead behind two kills and a block from Petersen and a kill by Kadance Cooney.
The Lady Bucks held a four-point lead at 15-11, the largest of the set, after two aces by Franklin and kills by Cooney and Petersen.
Churchill County came back to lead 18-17, when Lowry’s Jada Matheny tied it at 18 on a kill.
The Lady Bucks led one final time at 21-20, when the Greenwave scored the next three points.
Leading 23-21, Churchill County was called for a double hit, but the Greenwave closed out the set on the strength of a kill and ace.
Lowry kept itself in the match, jumping out to an 8-3 lead in the third set behind two kills from sophomore Savannah Stoker.
The advantage grew to as many as eight points after a tip by Alexis Olson and an ace by Cooney.
The Lady Bucks finished off the set with two more kills by Stoker and an ace by Olson.
Lowry held an 8-6 lead in the fourth set, picking up four kills by Stoker and two more by Petersen.
Late in the fourth set Lowry trailed 20-14 but made a run and looked to be within two points at 20-18 after a kill, but the Lady Bucks were called for being in the net, giving the points to Churchill County.
The Greenwave missed its next serve and Stoker followed with a kill to bring Lowry within two points at 21-19.
However, Lowry missed its next serve helping Churchill County to the victory.
Lowry is still in contention for a regional playoff spot and travels to Dayton on Friday for a 6 p.m. match and Fernley on Saturday for a noon start. Lowry’s home finale is Tuesday, Oct. 26, against Spring Creek at 6 p.m.
