The Pahrump Valley High School varsity girls’ volleyball team turned a challenging opening day into a strong tournament finish, battling through seven matches over two days and ultimately claiming third place at the Vegas Classic on Friday, Aug. 28, and Saturday, Aug. 29.
The tournament at Durango High School brought together teams from Nevada, Arizona and California, giving the Trojans an opportunity to face a variety of competition. Friday’s three matches served as pool play to determine placement for Saturday’s bracket, where Pahrump worked its way through four more matches and finished the weekend with a victory over Lincoln County.
Pahrump opened the tournament Friday against Helix of San Diego, California, and came out strong in the first set. After the teams traded points early, the Trojans began creating separation behind several productive trips to the service line.
Henna Maiava helped turn an 11-11 tie into a Pahrump advantage, serving an ace during a run that put the Trojans ahead 16-11. Xe’ane Kamanu provided several kills during the set, while Olivia Veloz, Riley Saldaña and Miani Freitas-Faamai also contributed at the net. Pahrump continued to build its lead before closing the set with a 25-16 victory.
Helix responded in the second set, building an early advantage before Pahrump mounted a run behind Sedona Norton’s serving. The Trojans cut a 17-8 deficit to 17-13, and later pulled within three at 19-16. Kamanu added an ace as Pahrump continued trying to close the gap, but Helix held on for the 25-18 win.
That sent the match to the tournament’s 15-point deciding set. Helix jumped ahead 6-0 before the Trojans began working their way back. Freitas-Faamai put down a kill, Kamanu followed with a strong trip to the service line and Alyvia Morin later served an ace during a Pahrump run that narrowed the deficit to 9-7.
Saldaña added an ace to make it 10-9, and Pahrump continued pressing late. Norton served as Kamanu recorded a block and a kill on consecutive points, bringing the Trojans within one at 13-12. Helix secured the next two points, however, taking the deciding set 15-12 and the match 2-1.
Pahrump next faced Green Valley and struggled to find its footing in the opening set as the Gators established an early lead and went on to win 25-6.
The Trojans looked much different in the second set. Veloz and Saldaña helped Pahrump move ahead early, and Saldaña served an ace as the Trojans built a 7-4 advantage. The teams remained close through the middle of the set, with Pahrump taking a 15-13 lead behind Morin’s serving.
Green Valley eventually moved back in front, but the Trojans stayed within striking distance. Saldaña recorded another kill late and Veloz served as Pahrump cut the deficit to 23-21 before Green Valley took the final two points for a 25-21 victory.
The Trojans completed Friday’s pool play against Flagstaff. Pahrump stayed close early in the opening set, with Veloz recording an ace and Kamanu and Saldaña contributing kills. Flagstaff eventually created some separation, but Pahrump continued fighting for points late in the set before falling 25-19. Flagstaff followed with a 25-18 win in the second set.
With pool play complete, Pahrump returned Saturday for bracket competition and immediately began changing the direction of its weekend.
The Trojans opened against Del Sol and won a tight first set 27-25 before taking control in the second for a 25-9 victory and a straight-set win.
Pahrump’s attack was spread throughout the lineup. Saldaña led the Trojans with five kills, Kamanu added four and Freitas-Faamai finished with three. Pahrump also created considerable pressure from the service line, recording 12 aces. Norton led that effort with four, Morin had three and Saldaña added two. Defensively, Norton recorded a team-high eight digs, while Freitas-Faamai contributed two solo blocks. Maiava directed the offense with 15 assists.
That victory moved the Trojans into a matchup with Cactus Canyon of Laveen, Arizona, where Pahrump had to come from behind. Cactus Canyon took the opening set 25-21, but the Trojans answered decisively with a 25-10 victory in the second. With the match reduced to a 15-point third set, Pahrump completed the comeback with a 15-8 win to advance.
Saldaña led the attack with 12 kills in the three-set match, while Kamanu added seven. Veloz and Freitas-Faamai each recorded four kills, and Kaitlyn Brown added three. Kamanu also led Pahrump at the service line with six aces, with Saldaña and Maiava adding three apiece.
The Trojans’ defense contributed 50 digs in the match, led by Norton with nine. Veloz and Kamanu each had seven, while Morin and Maiava recorded six apiece. Maiava also finished with 27 assists, while Morin added three.
Pahrump then faced Marana of Tucson, Arizona, with a spot in the championship match at stake. Marana took the opening set 25-14, but the Trojans made the second considerably closer before falling 25-22.
Freitas-Faamai and Veloz each recorded three kills on four attempts against Marana, while Saldaña had four kills and Kamanu added two. Maiava finished with 13 assists and led the defense with six digs, while Norton added four. Kamanu recorded two of Pahrump’s four aces.
The loss sent Pahrump into the third-place match against Lincoln County, and the Trojans closed the tournament with one of their strongest finishes of the weekend.
Pahrump won the opening set 25-21 before the second developed into a back-and-forth battle that went beyond the usual 25 points. The Trojans eventually prevailed 29-27, completing the sweep and securing third place.
Veloz led Pahrump offensively against Lincoln County with seven kills and no attacking errors, while Saldaña recorded six kills and Kamanu added five. Norton had three of the Trojans’ 11 aces, with Kamanu adding four. Maiava handed out 16 assists.
The Trojans also put together a busy defensive performance in the final match, recording 43 digs. Norton led the way with 15, while Maiava finished with 10 and Kamanu and McKinsey Nottingham each added four. McKinsey Nottingham recorded two solo blocks and Saldaña added another.
After beginning the weekend with three losses during Friday’s pool play, Pahrump responded by winning three of its four bracket matches Saturday. The final victory over Lincoln County gave the Trojans a third-place finish and sent them home from a demanding two-day tournament with three wins on the final day and valuable experience against teams from three states.
*Photos are available at pvcnphotos.com.
