The 2021 volleyball season is going to be a tough one to beat. However, 12 athletes are going to try their best.
Last season, the girls made it to the second round of the regional playoffs where they lost to Yerington in a high stakes match.
Yerington progressed to the state competition where they lost 3-0 to the Meadows School, the 2021 state champions.
The Mustangs finished third in the 2A Northern with a 11-4 league record, losing to Yerington and Incline twice.
They said farewell to seniors Presley Burrows, Bela Rosas, Aledda Sam and Hannah Montes. This year three seniors step up to fill the void - Kaylen Halverson, Andrea Canchola and Kaydance Happy.
Last year Halverson won All-State and All-Conference recognition, 2nd Team. She returns as a setter with an integral role in setting up the offense. Canchola plays libero, while Happy, a 6’2’’ All-Conference 2nd teamer, dominates the net on the middle and right side.
The rest of the lineup includes seven juniors and two sophomores. The juniors are Anna Happy, Jessica Gonzalez, Yasmine McKinney, KayLee Poffenroth, Morgan Swindlehurst, Katie Moore and Taylor Garland.
Last season the JV team chose McKinney as MVP and Gonzalez as the most improved player.
Garland received All-Conference recognition last year, Honorable Mention. Coach Monica Halverson named the ‘quiet threat’ the defensive player of the year.
The two sophomores are Raegan Burrows and Aaliyah Allen. Both bring strong records to the squad. Allen had 84 kills last season for JV, more than anyone on the team.
This weekend the Mustangs host a nine-team volleyball tournament. They’ll compete against Lowry, Dayton, Fernley, Wells, Hawthorne, Smith Valley, Yerington JV and Incline. Friday’s games are from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday’s bracket play runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. On Aug. 26- 27 Lovelock competes in a preseason tournament in Yerington.
Coach Halverson says the Mustangs have ‘unfinished business’ with Yerington and Incline, the only teams to beat them last season. The girls play with heart, supporting each other all the way.
