The Pahrump Valley High School volleyball team put on a show of resilience and teamwork Monday night, August 25, 2025, coming from behind to defeat the Boulder City Eagles in a thrilling five-set match. After falling behind 0-2, the Trojans stormed back to win the next three sets, clinching the victory 3-2 in front of a spirited home crowd.
The first set was marked by back-and-forth rallies. Xe’ane Kamanu delivered the first kill of the night for Pahrump, and Sedona Norton followed up with a serving ace to briefly give the Trojans the lead. But Boulder City countered with strong serving and aggressive net play. Despite kills from Marayah Waller and Heavenly Ware, and a defensive stand that included a block attempt by Waller, the Eagles pulled away late, taking the set 25-18.
The second set opened with energy from the Trojans, as Kamanu’s kill and Ware’s block highlighted early play. Nala Dalton stepped to the service line and delivered an ace, followed by a rally that featured a kill from Waller to keep the Trojans within striking distance. Riley Saldaña added an ace to continue the momentum, and Miani Freitas-Faamai delivered back-to-back kills in the middle to give Pahrump the lead midway through the set. However, errors and a late surge from the Eagles swung the set in Boulder City’s favor, 25-22.
Down 0-2, Pahrump refused to fold. The third set showcased the Trojans’ determination, beginning with Kamanu firing an ace that energized the gym. Waller and Ware teamed up for a block at the net, while Norton kept the defense steady with sharp digs that extended rallies. Madison Rodriguez provided a key save that led to a Kamanu kill, and Myah Krolczyk chipped in with consistent defensive play. The Eagles clawed back to tie the set at 24, but the Trojans answered. Kamanu smashed a kill to tie it at 25, then Norton dug out a hard-hit ball that Kamanu converted into another kill, before Boulder City committed a final error to give Pahrump the 27-25 win.
The fourth set belonged to Pahrump’s front line. Ware opened with a kill off Dalton’s serve, followed by another strong strike from Amaliah Mendoza to keep the Eagles off balance. Kamanu and Waller each contributed kills, and Rodriguez served an ace at a critical 23-23 tie to put Pahrump ahead. Boulder City tied it again at 24, but Dalton’s calm serving forced an Eagle miscue, and Kamanu closed it out with a solid serve that the Eagles were unable to return for a 26-24 win that set up a decisive fifth set.
With the match on the line, the Trojans roared out of the gate in the final set. Kamanu opened with an ace, and Dalton served an ace of her own in a 10-5 run. Freitas-Faamai added a crucial kill, and Ware powered home a strike that kept the Eagles on their heels. Norton’s relentless back-row defense and Waller’s presence at the net helped Pahrump maintain control, and Kamanu sealed the night with another kill before Freitas-Faamai’s ace clinched the 15-10 victory.
The win was backed by standout individual performances across the lineup. Kamanu led the night with 13 kills, closely followed by Ware with 11. From the service line, Norton, Kamanu, and Freitas-Faamai each recorded three aces, keeping Boulder City under pressure. Norton, playing libero, anchored the defense with an impressive 24 digs and 31 serve receives, giving the Trojans critical stability in the back row.
Head Coach Amber Lugo said the comeback was sparked by keeping things simple. “We just talked about what was happening and how we needed to simplify,” Lugo explained. “If we did a couple of little things right, we’d be back in the match. They understood the assignment and went out there and did it.”
The victory was especially meaningful after a challenging weekend at the Vegas Classic tournament, where the Trojans won just one of seven matches. “That was really rough,” Lugo admitted. “It was low energy, and it was hard to watch. But I told the girls it was going to get worse before it gets better. And then they came back the next day with better effort. Coming into tonight, I really didn’t know what to expect, but the energy they played with tonight was impressive.”
Lugo highlighted the team’s growth and resilience. “They’ve embraced everything I’ve told them. There’s a learning curve, but we saw it tonight—they’re just getting better and better,” she said. She also praised the complete team effort in the win and made sure to spotlight her libero: “It would be wrong if I didn’t mention what a fantastic job Sedona did tonight!”
The Trojans will carry the momentum from this comeback win into their upcoming schedule, with Coach Lugo emphasizing recovery and fundamentals as key points of focus in practice. “We’ll keep things light, work on serve receive, and make sure the girls stay fresh,” she explained. “I know it’s in them, and I’m glad they got to see it in themselves tonight.”
