Lake County club volleyball team one of only 16 to advance to Monday’s action
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LAS VEGAS >> The Never Say Die 16s club volleyball team lost in the opening round of gold bracket play Monday at the Las Vegas Classic after winning five of six matches Saturday and Sunday.
The 16s went 2-1 on Saturday before coming back with a 3-0 Sunday, including a win over a previously undefeated team, to reach the gold bracket, one of 16 teams to advance out of a 75-team field.
During Saturday action, NSD beat Athena Black Select 25-21, 25-15 and the Nestor Starlings 25-22, 25-16 before losing to Saddleback 25-11, 25-14.
During Sunday action, NSD scored a clean sweep, beating SBVC Molten 25-19, 25-16, Lava West Molten 26-24, 28-26, and Pulse VBC Black 25-16, 25-19.
In single-elimination gold bracket play Monday, NSD fell 25-18, 25-15 to Goldenwest 16.
“All in all a very good tourney for the 16s,” NSD head coach Marci Psalmonds said. “They worked all weekend and competed very well against some top teams. Grace (Peterson) and Jacyee (Luchetti) led the way on defense, picking up balls left and right.”
The team finished the tournament with 422 digs, an average of 60 per match.
“That kept them alive against some pretty hard-hitting teams,” Psalmonds said. “Our serve receive wasn’t the best it has been, but we still figured out a way to keep the wins going.”
Among team leaders for the tournament, Brooklyn Young registered 63 assists and Olivia Arredondo had 41. Liv Bushey’s 63 kills led the way followed by Moana Chamberlin with 34, Jordyn Wurm with 19, Madi Byrne with 19 and Gemma Tanti with six.
Wurm had a team-best 11 aces followed by Chamberlin with nine. Wurm also led the team with 16 blocks while Byrne had 11.
NSD 15s
The NSD 15s team finished the tournament 4-4.
“They are really starting to come along as a unit,” NSD coach Morgan Psalmonds said. “We have four eighth-graders and there are at least two on the court at all times. Having them play at a higher level is only going to make them better.”
In action Saturday, NSD beat Beach Cities 15 Platinum 25-23, 14-25,15-12, lost to Rise 15 National 25-22, 25-12, and lost to PSVBA 15 Elite 25-16, 11-25, 15-13.
During Sunday’s action, NSD opened the day on the wrong side of a 25-20, 31-29 score to Club Koa 15 Black before bouncing back with wins over SDVBC 15-Ari 25-18, 25-22 and Utah Ice 15 Mike 21-25, 25-20, 15-11.
Wrapping up play Monday, the 15s beat Underrated VC 20-25, 25-9, 15-4 and lost to PSVBA 15 Elite 25-23, 19-25, 15-12.
“We are more prepared for the hard-hit balls because we practice with our older teams,” Psalmonds said in summing up her team’s play during the weekend. “But when it comes to the simple tasks of volleyball, that’s when their age shows. We are making physical mistakes over mental ones, so I will take the growing pains. They all shined in their own special way this weekend, and I am beyond proud of the growth each of them has made from day one to now.”
Schedule
All three NSD teams are in action this coming weekend. The 16s are in action Saturday in Sacramento, the 15s play Saturday in San Mateo, and the 18s compete Sunday in Sacramento.
