Lake Mead girls roll to first state title

By Sean Ammerman

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 | 7:51 p.m.

Lake Mead Christian Academy's girls volleyball team clinched its first ever state championship Saturday with a 3-1 win against Pahranagat Valley in the 1A finals.

After losing game one 25-19, Lake Mead fought back to take narrow victories in the next three games.

"All week we had been practicing come-from-behind drills," Lake Mead coach Diana Lewis said. "I think that definitely helped them because they didn't panic or let down at all."

Lake Mead fell behind 10-2 early in the second game, but gained momentum to tie it at 24. From there both teams traded leads until Lake Mead edged out a 31-29 victory.

"That second game was a huge battle," Lake Mead outside hitter Ashley Newton said. "We kept losing our game points, but we stayed confident."

Lake Mead took games three and four 25-21 and 27-25, respectively.

Newton led the Eagles with 16 kills and 32 digs while outside hitter Amanda Wellman had 12 kills, a pair of aces and 41 digs.

Defeating Pahranagat Valley, defending champions and longtime rivals to Lake Mead, added extra meaning to the victory, Lewis said.

"Pahranagat Valley had always been a stigma for us," she said. "We called it the Black Panther curse, but I think we overcame it this season."

The state championship was the first for Lake Mead girls' sports.

After the finals, Newton was honored as the 1A Southern League MVP.

"It feels so good to have worked so hard and know it was worth it," Newton said. "The MVP just tops it all off."

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