Brianna Manning gets under one in the Lady Cougars' Den. Alexyss Young is backing her up. Both are freshmen. ROBIN RICHARDS/News West

Lady Cougars sweep 'Birds

By JIM MANIACI, Laughlin Nevada Times

LAUGHLIN - Freshman Melody Clarke's ace on the 25th point of the third game gave the Laughlin High School volleyball team a 3-0 sweep of Indian Springs High School in the season opener in the Cougars Den.

The Silver and Blue downed the Red, White and Blue 25-19 and 25-15 twice in the best of five match.

This year Lady Cougar Coach Eliza Candelaria, assisted by Craig Reisdorph, has a young team, suiting up nine players for the opener, of whom five were freshman. Against the Lady Thunderbirds Laughlin suited up a solo senior, two juniors and a sophomore to go with the five frosh.

As soon as she has the required 10 practices, veteran sophomore Jordan Wright will begin competition along with junior Holly Acuri and senior Rochelle Martinez, both untested, to go with senior free substitute Pi Viriyakul, juniors Elisa Daniels and Jennifer Wood, and sophomore Terran Drescher, all veterans, plus freshman Alexyss Young, Brianna Manning, Patricia Valdez, Brooke Lee and Clark.

Three-year veteran Brittany Chase chose to switch to the long-distance cross country team, which is eligible for the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's post-season tournament and a state crown - something the indoor netters aren't.

Candelaria is happy with the youngsters play, noting “They come early to practice, stay late and ask questions. They are hungry for playing time and they are eager to learn. That's why they did so well against Indian Springs.”

The first match also showed her which techniques need more work, such as transitions on the court, serving and two-handed setting.

Daniels showed promise and desire with her attempts at power spiking, lacking the height or jumping ability of last year's seniors for the ball to clear the net. But she still led in kills with six, adding three aces and a dig. Drescher scored three aces and a kill, with Viriyakul leading overall with eight aces, a kill and three digs.

Laughlin also won the JV match, without Lee and Viriyakul.

The coach also is pleased that the girls have come together as a family with things getting more positive already in the young season. She expects them to pick a season goal soon.

Laughlin's next home match will be Friday, Sept. 18, when the Tonopah Lady Muckers come to the Cougars Den for a 3 p.m. JV match and 4 and 5 p.m. varsity matches. (The Sept. 4 home date with visiting Alamo Pahranagat Valley was canceled.) On Sept. 8, LHS will play at Boulder City and on Sept. 11 and 12 a the Lake Mead Christian Invitational in Henderson.