Courtesy photo | Senior KyLee Cameron goes up for the hit during the 2A Southern League tournament at The Meadows School.
For the first time since 2013, Lincoln County High School varsity volleyball will be competing in the state tournament.
The Lady Lynx beat Lake Mead on Nov. 3 in the Southern 2A Regional semifinals at The Meadows School. Scores were 28-26, 25-17, 19-25, and 25-22.
Coach Chantel Holt said, “I think we always had the potential to beat Lake Mead, just some of the timing of our previous encounters wasn’t the best and we weren’t at our best. At the end of the season, we are more gelled and more confident and more focused. Staying focused was definitely a big deal.”
The first set was epic, with both teams trading points back and forth for the majority of the game.
Lake Mead finally took the lead, 23-20. Lincoln won the next point and, with junior Sadie Soderborg serving, tied the game, 23-23. After more back and forth, the score was tied once again at 26-26. However, Lincoln was determined to win and refused to let the ball drop on their side of the court. Lincoln dominated Lake Mead in the following set but then relaxed a little too much in the next set, giving Lake Mead some life.
During the final set, the Lynx stayed calm and took the lead right away, slowly punching their ticket to state. Lake Mead gained a few points here and there, but it was ultimately Lincoln’s game, and Soderborg left no room for negotiation, ending the game with a clean ace.
Holt said, “Some people might ask if we have one player who really stands out, but I think we have a pretty well-rounded team as well as the girls we play out on the court. We don’t have a lot of depth in our bench; they’re all still young. But with our girls [who] we have consistently on the court, we have a pretty well-rounded group. Although, as far as turning the game around and getting us some big points, [senior Kendra Mathews] has done a good job of that.”
Immediately after the hard-fought game, Lincoln turned around to play league undefeated and defending state champ The Meadows School, losing 25-9, 25-8, and 25-7.
Two-seed Lincoln County will play one-seed Yerington at Reed High School in Sparks at 8:15 p.m. today in the state semifinals. The winner will play for a state championship on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. at Bishop Manogue High in Reno.
