The Pahrump Valley High School girls’ varsity volleyball team opened its road match against Moapa Valley with two consecutive set victories before the Pirates rallied to claim a closely contested five-set match Thursday, Sept. 17, in Moapa.
Pahrump won the opening two sets by matching 25-20 scores, putting the Trojans one set away from completing the victory. Moapa responded by taking the next three sets, 25-19, 25-13 and 15-12, to secure the 3-2 win.
The Trojans established their rhythm early behind contributions throughout the lineup. Henna Maiava opened the match with an ace, while Riley Saldaña and Miani Freitas-Faamai helped Pahrump find success at the net. Evalenne Armendariz and Sedona Norton also delivered aces as the opening set remained close through its early stages.
With the score tied at 11, Freitas-Faamai recorded a block to give the Trojans the lead. Another Moapa attack sailed out, extending Pahrump’s advantage to 13-11 and prompting a Pirates timeout.
Saldaña later put down a kill and followed it with a strong service turn that included a Freitas-Faamai kill. Norton added an ace as Pahrump built a 17-14 advantage. The Pirates remained close, but the Trojans continued to answer. Xe’ane Kamanu delivered a kill before Saldaña added another during a late run from the service line by Armendariz.
Armendariz’s second ace of the set pushed Pahrump ahead 23-18. After a Moapa serve went out to give the Trojans set point, Saldaña and Freitas-Faamai combined for a block that closed the opening set, 25-20.
Kamanu helped the Trojans start quickly in the second set, serving consecutive aces for a 3-1 advantage. Moapa moved ahead briefly, but a kill by Mckinsey Nottingham and an ace from Armendariz pulled Pahrump even at 5.
The teams continued trading points until a long rally ended with a Saldaña kill. Mahina Decambra then remained at the service line as Pahrump moved in front 9-7, sending the Pirates into another timeout.
A combined block by Freitas-Faamai and Maiava kept the Trojans ahead, and Kamanu followed with a kill. Pahrump’s defense also played an important role, including a diving save by Decambra during a rally that ended with another Kamanu kill.
Kamanu took over at the service line with Pahrump leading 15-11 and delivered four aces during a decisive run. Her serves helped the Trojans stretch their advantage to 19-11 before Moapa used its second timeout of the set.
Saldaña continued finding openings in the Pirates’ defense, while Decambra added an ace and Freitas-Faamai recorded a late kill. Saldaña finished the set with another kill, giving Pahrump a 25-20 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Trojans carried that momentum into the beginning of the third set. Saldaña recorded two early kills, and Pahrump’s front row produced a block as the visitors moved ahead 4-1. An Olivia Veloz block contributed to another point, helping the Trojans build a 5-1 advantage.
Moapa gradually worked its way back and tied the score at 7 before moving ahead. The Pirates created separation with a run through the middle of the set, but Pahrump continued competing after falling behind.
Veloz and Kaitlyn Brown each delivered kills, while Kamanu recorded an ace during a late Trojan push. Facing set point at 24-16, Saldaña served an ace and helped Pahrump score three consecutive points. The rally forced Moapa to call a timeout before the Pirates collected the final point for a 25-19 win.
Pahrump again claimed an early advantage in the fourth set. Kamanu served an ace and helped the Trojans move ahead 4-1. After Moapa tied the score, Saldaña delivered back-to-back kills, and Decambra followed with an ace that placed Pahrump in front 8-7.
The score remained close as Freitas-Faamai’s tip tied the set at 10 and a Kamanu attack gave the Trojans an 11-10 advantage. Moapa responded with a sustained run, however, creating a lead Pahrump was unable to erase. Kamanu added another kill before the Pirates closed the set, 25-13, forcing a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Moapa scored the first three points of the deciding set, but Pahrump quickly began working its way back. Kamanu recorded a kill, Brown added another and Veloz contributed from the service line as the Trojans reduced the deficit to 6-5.
After a Moapa serve went out, Armendariz stepped to the line with Pahrump trailing 7-6. A Pirates attack went long to tie the score, and Kamanu followed with a tip and a kill to put the Trojans ahead 9-7.
Pahrump maintained its lead behind another Kamanu kill and entered the closing stretch ahead 11-10. Moapa scored twice to move in front, but Kamanu answered with a kill that tied the deciding set at 12.
The Pirates collected the final three points to take the set, 15-12, and complete the comeback. Although the result went against Pahrump, the Trojans demonstrated their ability to control extended stretches of play against a league opponent and remained within reach of the victory until the final points of the fifth set.
