The Pahrump Valley High School junior varsity girls’ volleyball team earned a three-set victory over the Rancho High School Rams on Tuesday, Aug. 25, overcoming an early deficit before closing out the match 25-16, 21-25, 15-10 at home in Pahrump.
Rancho opened the match with four straight points, but the Trojans steadily worked their way back into the first set. Marely Gomez put down an attack to help Pahrump cut into the lead, while Charisma Woodard added a spike from the middle as the Trojans pulled within two.
Pahrump kept a long rally alive before Rancho eventually hit into the net, making it 8-9. With Abigail Sutton serving, Ariana Apolinar then set Woodard, who tipped the ball over the net to tie the score at 9-9.
Sutton followed with an ace to give the Trojans their first lead, prompting Rancho to call a timeout.
Pahrump continued to gain separation from there. Bentlee Chiancone entered to serve as the Trojans moved ahead 12-10, and Daisy Skougard later helped Pahrump stretch its advantage from the service line.
Setter Sarah Penner used a backward set to Apolinar, who tipped the ball over for a 17-13 lead. Emerlynn Roscoe followed with a tip into open floor, and Aviana Michel added an ace when her serve caught the net and rolled over.
Michel’s next serve also went unreturned, putting Pahrump ahead 20-14. Gomez followed with a well-placed ball into the back corner, while Woodard added another tip as the Trojans continued pulling away.
Sutton delivered another ace to bring Pahrump to set point, and the Trojans finished the opening set 25-16.
Pahrump carried that momentum into the second behind Apolinar, who opened the set at the service line. Rancho was unable to return four consecutive serves as the Trojans quickly built a 4-0 advantage.
Roscoe followed with a pair of strong attacks, including a spike Rancho sent out on its attempted return. Another unreturned serve gave Pahrump the first seven points of the set.
Rancho began cutting into the lead, but the Trojans maintained their advantage through the middle of the frame. Apolinar connected with Gomez for a spike from the left side to make it 10-4, and Roscoe later put down another attack with Skougard serving.
Penner tipped the ball over the net to give Pahrump a 15-9 lead before the Rams began mounting their comeback.
Rancho used a series of attacks and Pahrump errors to pull within a point before eventually tying the score at 16-16. The Rams continued their run and moved ahead late in the set.
The Trojans worked to close the gap, with Gomez putting down a spike and Woodard adding a tip to make it 19-21. Rancho was able to maintain the advantage, however, taking the second set 25-21 and forcing a deciding third.
The Rams scored the first two points of the final set before Roscoe sent an attack into the back corner to get Pahrump started.
Apolinar stepped to the service line and helped the Trojans quickly turn the score around. Rancho hit into the net to tie it at 2-2, then was unable to return Apolinar’s next serve. She followed with an ace to put Pahrump ahead 4-2.
Sutton added an attack that Rancho touched while trying to play the ball, and Gomez drove a spike off an attempted Rams block and out to extend the lead to 6-3.
Pahrump continued to control the middle portion of the set. Woodard came up with a block on a Rancho spike for an 8-4 advantage, and the Trojans kept several rallies alive defensively while forcing the Rams to work for points.
Rancho was unable to complete a return within three contacts as Pahrump moved ahead 11-6. The Rams picked up another point, but a service error gave possession back to the Trojans.
Pahrump reached match point at 14-9 following another Rancho attack that sailed out. The Rams managed one final point before the Trojans finished the set 15-10, bringing the three-set match to a close with a win on their home court.
