The Pahrump Valley High School junior varsity volleyball team combined aggressive serving with steady play at the net to sweep Cristo Rey at home Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The Trojans claimed the opening set 25-15 before overcoming an early deficit and pulling away for a 25-14 victory in the second.
Emri Wulfenstein opened the match with a spike from the left side, and Ariana Apolinar followed with an ace to give Pahrump an immediate 2-0 advantage. Wulfenstein later served consecutive aces, while Daisy Skougard added another as the Trojans built a 7-2 lead.
Pahrump continued creating points throughout its lineup. Abigail Sutton served an ace, Marely Gomez delivered a spike and Emerlynn Roscoe added another attack to help extend the lead to 12-4. Bentlee Chiancone followed with a productive turn from the service line.
Cristo Rey narrowed the gap to 18-12, but Gomez ended the run by digging a serve that the visitors could not return. Skougard then delivered three consecutive aces to push Pahrump’s advantage to 22-12.
Cristo Rey gained three points before a missed serve returned possession to the Trojans. Gomez brought Pahrump to set point with a spike, and the Trojans closed the set with an ace for the 25-15 win.
Cristo Rey scored the first three points of the second set, but Pahrump quickly settled in. Skougard served back-to-back aces to tie the score at 5, then helped the Trojans move ahead 6-5.
After the teams traded points, Roscoe recorded an ace for an 8-6 lead. A long volley went Pahrump’s way before Gomez took over at the service line. Aviana Michel contributed a spike, and Gomez added two aces during a run that expanded the Trojans’ advantage to 14-7.
Pahrump continued its strong play to build an 18-7 lead. Cristo Rey responded with three points, but the Trojans regained control when the visitors could not return a volley. Skye Plunkett then served for another point, and a Cristo Rey double hit made it 21-10.
Kristine Lianne Guzman later raced forward to dig a ball that dropped onto an open area of Cristo Rey’s court, putting Pahrump ahead 22-13. Apolinar followed with an ace, and Wulfenstein served as the Trojans secured the final two points to complete the 25-14 win.
