Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
In the world of statistical analysis, many experts don’t believe momentum exists.
They must have never watched a volleyball match.
After cruising through the first two sets, the Fernley High School volleyball team came from behind in the third set to complete a sweep of North Valleys in the first round of the 3A North Region tournament Monday night, 25-7, 25-13, 25-22.
The Vaqueros will now face Truckee, which defeated Fallon Tuesday night, in the semifinals of the region tournament at 4 p.m. Friday in Fallon. Elko will play Spring Creek in the other semifinal match, with the two winners playing for the regional championship Saturday. Both of the semifinal winners also qualify for the 3A State Tournament at Sunrise Mountain in Las Vegas.
The Vaqueros jumped out to big leads in both of the first two sets, with a 13-1 to start the first set that only grew from there, then an 11-1 run in the second set to turn a 4-3 lead to 16-5.
But North Valleys scored the first two points of the third set, and as fast as the Vaqueros had started, suddenly it the was the Panthers with momentum. North Valleys extended its lead to 8-3, and had control with a lead of as much as 16-10, before Fernley regained control. Marli O’Neill served consecutive aces to pull the Vaqueros within 16-15. North Valleys answered back with two points, but a kill by Trista Menesini ignited five straight points for Fernley’s first lead of the third set, 20-19. A kill by Emma Masters put Fernley on the brink of the win with a 24-21 lead, and one point later, the Panthers were unable to get the ball back over the net on match point.
Coach Marion Dillon said losing momentum in the third set has been something Fernley has struggled with all season.
“I think it’s that they need a Snickers, in between the second and third set,” Dillon joked. “We did much better today and ended up pulling off the win.”
In doing so, they may have confirmed an alternate theory of momentum, that momentum is just good players doing what they are capable of.
“We just got back to playing like we’re capable of,” Dillon said.
As their match ended, the Vaqueros were still awaiting word whether they would play Truckee or Fallon in the semifinals Friday, but Dillon said they feel good about their chances either way. They beat Fallon in five sets in both league matches, and beat Truckee in five sets in a crossover match.
“We sure do, yes, we feel really great,” she said, “We know both teams, we played both teams, we’ve beaten both teams.”
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