1A REGIONALS: Lewis, Panthers capture another title

Halie Lewis stepped onto the court Saturday for her final appearance in the Class 1A Southern League girls volleyball championship ready to leave it all on the court.

The senior outside hitter did that and more.

Lewis racked up 31 kills and two blocks to help Pahranagat Valley win its second straight league tournament title with a 25-15, 25-14, 21-25, 25-22 victory over Tonopah at Sunrise Mountain.

“It’s my last go-around, so I just didn’t want to hold anything back,” Lewis said. “I wanted to give it everything I’ve got, because I don’t want to regret anything later.”

Kimberly Lewis had 37 assists, four blocks and four aces for the Panthers (31-2), who stormed to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set after the Muckers (25-11) used four kills and an ace by Deanna VanPoucke to take the third.

Pahranagat Valley had not lost a set since an Oct. 11 win over Class 2A Lake Mead. But the lost set wasn’t such a bad thing, Lewis said.

“It shows that we’re beatable now, and that we have to work harder,” she said. “Nothing’s going to be handed to us, for sure.”

Panthers coach Ginger Whipple said she was impressed with the way the two-time defending state champion Panthers responded after falling behind in the third set.

“I don’t think pressure is such a bad thing,” said Whipple, whose team has lost 10 total sets on the season. “I’m proud of them and the way they stepped up. I just told them that’s what happens when you let a good team back into it.

“You can lose a set and still win, and there’s no shame in that, as long as you keep fighting and don’t give up. That’s the difference between a good team and a great team. The great teams keep fighting.”

Kyla Mortensen added 23 kills and three aces for Pahranagat Valley, and teammate Kennedy Huntsman supplied 12 assists.

“Kyla’s really come on this year,” Whipple said. “She was good the last three years, but she’s been great this year. I have two hitters, and usually we don’t have that luxury.”

VanPoucke finished with 13 kills, two blocks and two aces to lead the Muckers, and teammate Alli Friel had 15 assists and three kills.

Elaina Dunn contributed six kills and two aces for Tonopah.

Pahranagat Valley will face Sierra Lutheran (22-12) at 4:40 p.m. Friday in the state tournament at Chaparral. Tonopah takes on North champ Coleville at 3 p.m.

Tonopah 3, Indian Springs 2 — VanPoucke had seven kills, four blocks and 10 digs to help the Muckers advance to the title match by outlasting the Thunderbirds, 25-15, 25-16, 16-25, 22-25, 15-10.

Dunn added eight assists and 11 digs, and Elise Salsbury dished out 16 assists for Tonopah. Sarah Greber put down six kills and three blocks for the Muckers.

Victoria Carpenter had five assists, six kills, five blocks and two aces for Indian Springs (12-8). Ashley Pierce added six kills and three aces for the Thunderbirds, who got four kills and four aces from Tessa Lounsbury.

Pahranagat Valley 3, Lund 0 — Mortensen had 15 kills and 10 aces as the Panthers cruised past the Mustangs, 25-3, 25-7, 25-7 in a semifinal.

Halie Lewis added 15 kills for Pahranagat Valley, and Kimberly Lewis supplied 17 assists and three aces.

Emily Cornelison and EmmaLee Erekson had two kills apiece for Lund (5-4).