The Pahrump Valley High School varsity girls’ volleyball team faced a demanding two-day schedule at the fourth annual Island Classic, competing in seven matches and playing 17 sets on Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5.
Pahrump opened the tournament in Pool C at Liberty High School before advancing to the Gold Bracket at Silverado High School on Saturday. The Trojans finished sixth overall after earning three victories, including two three-set wins over Cimarron-Memorial.
The tournament began against Skyridge, with the opening set quickly becoming one of Pahrump’s closest of the weekend. The Trojans trailed 24-22 before a kill by Xe’ane Kamanu and another from Riley Saldaña helped them fight off set point. Skyridge then sent an attack out before Saldaña delivered the final kill in a 26-24 Pahrump victory.
Skyridge jumped ahead 7-0 in the second set, but the Trojans steadily erased the deficit. Kamanu and Miani Freitas-Faamai contributed kills, while Henna Majava and Olivia Veloz combined for a block. Veloz then took over at the service line as Pahrump turned a 16-12 deficit into a lead. Her extended run included multiple aces and gave the Trojans control on the way to a 25-19 win and a two-set sweep.
Pahrump’s second pool match came against Cimarron-Memorial. Sedona Norton served consecutive aces during a back-and-forth opening set, while Kamanu, Saldaña and McKinsey Nottingham supplied points at the net. The Spartans, however, closed the set with a late run to win 25-20.
The Trojans responded decisively in the second set. Aces by Alyvia Morin and Saldaña helped Pahrump take the lead before Norton produced a lengthy service run that expanded the advantage from 10-9 to 18-9. Majava added an ace, Kaitlyn Brown recorded a late kill and Kamanu finished the set with another kill in a 25-17 victory.
Pahrump carried that momentum into the deciding set. After falling behind 7-4, the Trojans pulled even behind an ace from Saldaña and a block by Majava and Freitas-Faamai. Majava later broke a 10-10 tie with a strong run from the service line, recording two aces as Pahrump closed out a 15-10 victory and claimed the match in three sets.
Moapa Valley handed the Trojans their first loss in Friday’s final pool match. Pahrump received aces from Majava, Kamanu and Morin during the opening set, along with several kills from Freitas-Faamai, but Moapa Valley pulled away for a 25-18 win.
The Trojans made a stronger push in the second set. Saldaña had three early kills, and Pahrump later cut a 17-10 deficit to 19-17 behind Majava’s serving and consecutive aces from Kamanu. The Trojans continued to battle, reaching 23 points before Moapa Valley secured the set, 25-23, and the match.
Pahrump opened Saturday’s Gold Bracket against Mojave at Silverado High School. The Trojans trailed throughout much of the first set before making a late run behind Norton’s serving. Norton recorded an ace and helped Pahrump close within three, but Mojave finished the set 25-21.
The Trojans answered with a 25-19 win in the second set. Kamanu and Saldaña repeatedly found the floor, while Norton helped Pahrump turn a 16-16 tie into an 18-16 lead. Majava added an ace before Kamanu served out the final stretch, which included an ace and two Saldana kills.
Mojave built an early advantage in the deciding set. Mahina Decambra recorded an ace, while Kamanu and Veloz helped Pahrump gain points at the net, but Mojave held on for a 15-10 win.
Pahrump’s next opponent was Pinecrest Cadence. Cadence won the opening set 25-11, but the Trojans again responded by forcing a third set. Kamanu and Decambra recorded aces during the second set, while Norton delivered another productive service run. Majava added a late ace before Kamanu closed the 25-16 victory with a kill.
The deciding set developed into a close finish after Pahrump overcame a 10-4 deficit. Nottingham recorded two solo blocks during the comeback, Decambra supplied an ace and Norton helped the Trojans draw even at 12-12. Saldaña tied the set again at 15 with a kill, but Cadence scored the final two points for a 17-15 victory.
That loss set up a rematch with Cimarron-Memorial. The Spartans led the opening set 24-19, but Pahrump refused to let it end quietly. Decambra remained at the service line as Kamanu delivered consecutive kills, Majava scored with a tip and Nottingham put down a spike to tie the score at 24. Cimarron-Memorial recovered to claim the final two points and win 26-24.
The Trojans responded with a 25-20 victory in the second set. Majava helped Pahrump erase a four-point deficit with an ace and a sustained service run. Kamanu then recorded an ace as the Trojans moved ahead 18-15, and Veloz contributed two late kills before Norton ended the set with an ace.
Pahrump trailed 10-5 in the third set before making another comeback. Decambra served during a run that included a Kamanu kill and block, and Norton later recorded consecutive aces as the Trojans took the lead. Majava added an ace to bring Pahrump to match point, and Kamanu finished the 15-13 victory with a kill.
The tournament concluded with another rematch, this time against Moapa Valley. The Pirates won the opening set 25-15 before Pahrump answered in the second.
The Trojans trailed 12-7 but surged behind Norton’s serving, with Kamanu providing several points as Pahrump tied the score at 12. Later, Decambra directed another extended run that included a Kamanu kill, a Freitas-Faamai spike and a diving save by Morin. Norton added an ace to give the Trojans set point, and Kamanu delivered the final kill in a 25-22 win.
Pahrump faced an 11-3 deficit in the third set but nearly completed one more comeback. Morin recorded an ace, Brown contributed a spike and Decambra served during a run that brought the Trojans even at 14-14. Moapa Valley managed the final two points, taking the set 16-14 and the match in three.
The sixth-place finish gave Pahrump valuable experience against a varied field, with the Trojans repeatedly responding to early deficits and extending four of Saturday’s matches to deciding sets. Their three tournament victories included a sweep of Skyridge and a pair of hard-fought wins over Cimarron-Memorial.
*These photos and more are available at pvcnphotos.com.
