The Pahrump Valley High School girls’ varsity volleyball team put together strong serving runs, timely kills and determined defensive plays against Boulder City during its Pink Game on Tuesday, Sept. 29, taking the third set before the Eagles secured a four-set victory in Pahrump.
The evening also brought a community partnership to the court. Soroptimist Pahrump Valley partnered with the PVHS volleyball team for the Pink Game, donating socks to the players and holding a raffle for a basket of goodies, with proceeds benefiting cancer research.
Boulder City won 25-19, 25-23, 21-25 and 25-18, but the Trojans created opportunities throughout the match. Pahrump led for much of the second set and built a substantial advantage in the third, extending the evening with contributions from across the lineup.
The Trojans opened the first set with Henna Maiava serving and quickly moved ahead. An ace from Xe’ane Kamanu helped Pahrump establish a 5-1 lead before Boulder City responded with a run that put the Eagles in front.
Pahrump continued working its way back into contention. Miani Freitas-Faamai and Riley Saldaña delivered kills, while Sedona Norton’s serving helped the Trojans close within 12-11. Kamanu added another kill to keep the margin at one, and Olivia Veloz put away an attack as Pahrump stayed within reach.
Later in the set, Freitas-Faamai scored at the net and Norton delivered consecutive aces, bringing the Trojans within 20-19. Boulder City claimed the final five points to take the opener, but Pahrump carried its aggressive play into the second set.
Kamanu began that set with a kill and an ace, and Saldaña followed with a successful tip. Evalenne Armendariz then delivered two aces and another serve the Eagles could not return, helping Pahrump build a 9-4 advantage.
The Trojans maintained their lead through the middle of the set. Norton made a big dig during a rally that ended with a Boulder City attack sailing out, and Kaitlyn Brown followed with a kill. Saldaña added consecutive kills to help Pahrump move ahead 15-11.
Another productive service run from Armendariz pushed the lead to 19-15. Kamanu continued finding openings at the net, and Brown delivered a kill following a Trojan timeout to make it 23-21. Boulder City answered with four consecutive points, narrowly taking the set 25-23.
Pahrump responded in the third with its strongest stretch of the match. Alyvia Morin served an ace to tie the score at 4-4, Kamanu placed a tip on the floor to even it at 5-5, and Mahina Decambra sent a dig over the net that the Eagles could not return. Freitas-Faamai added a kill as the teams remained tied at 7-7.
The Trojans began creating separation behind Saldaña, who recorded a kill, a well-placed tip and another kill to help establish a 13-10 lead. Decambra then served consecutive aces, extending the advantage to 16-11.
Pahrump continued adding points through its serving and net defense. Armendariz delivered a serve Boulder City could not return, and Veloz and Maiava combined for a block that made it 20-13. Another Trojan block followed, and Maiava later served an ace to push the lead to 23-14.
Boulder City narrowed the gap, but Pahrump finished the set. Kamanu’s kill brought up set point, and Saldaña put away the final attack for a 25-21 victory.
The fourth set featured another closely contested opening. Veloz scored with a soft attack, Maiava made a huge save during an early rally and later placed a tip over the net, and Kamanu contributed kills as the teams exchanged points. Morin’s ace tied the score at 12-12 before Saldaña and Freitas-Faamai combined for a block to bring Pahrump even again at 13-13.
The Eagles eventually pulled ahead, though the Trojans continued producing points. Freitas-Faamai added two late kills, Armendariz served another ace and Kamanu put away an attack with Boulder City at match point before the Eagles closed out the set.
Beyond the competition, the Pink Game gave players and supporters an opportunity to contribute to cancer research. Soroptimist Pahrump Valley’s partnership added a shared purpose to an evening of volleyball, connecting the team’s home match with support for a cause that reaches well beyond the court.
