Lake Mead girls roll to 1A Southern Region title

By Sean Ammerman

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 | 7:57 p.m.

Lake Mead Christian Academy girls' volleyball coach Diana Lewis couldn't decide what was more rewarding – winning the Class 1A Southern Region title or trouncing longtime rival Pahranagat Valley.

Lewis felt the joys of both on Saturday, as Lake Mead beat Pahranagat Valley 3-0 at Desert Oasis to win its first regional title.

"Pahranagat is used to winning all the time and we're the ones who always come second," she said. "This win was huge for us."

Ashley Newton led the Eagles with 13 kills and 25 digs while Jessica Rinaldi had 23 assists and 3 aces in the championship match.

Lewis praised her team for communicating better on the court than had all year.

The only time they let up, she said, was during a close second game with Pahranagat Valley.

"I called a time out and told them they need to get their intensity up," Lewis said. "They held back a little bit. That's something we need to work on."

After winning the first game 25-14, Lake Mead nudged out a 25-22 win in the second game. The Eagles clinched the win, and a No. 1 seed in the state tournament, with a 25-14 win in game three.

Lake Mead did not give up a game in the tournament, beating both Trinity and Tonopah 3-0 in the first and second rounds of the playoffs.

Lewis said her team will enter the state tournament, held Nov. 14th and 15th in Reno, with plenty of confidence.

"We will have confidence but not cockiness," she said. "Why try not to look past the next point."

Lake Mead will face McDermitt in the semifinals on Friday.

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].