Season wraps up with tournaments in Reno, Las Vegas
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SACRAMENTO >> The Never Say Die 18s club volleyball team went 3-3 during tournament play over the weekend at the Capital Sports Center in Sacramento.
“We had a bit of a back-and-forth weekend,” Never Say Die head coach Marci Psalmonds said. “Our serve receive hurt us in our losses, and we had a tough time climbing out of the holes we dug early. Once we got into longer rallies, we looked like ourselves again.”
Added Psalmonds, “All three losses were matches we absolutely could have won, which makes them sting a little more but also shows what this team is capable of. We did finish the weekend with a win, and that’s always a good feeling, especially after a long trip home.”
NSD beat UVA 17/18 Power 25-15, 25-8 before losing to Mango Tide 18 Waves in three sets 24-26, 25-21, 15-9. NSD bounced back with a 25-16, 25-16 win over ESB Cesar, then dropped back-to-back matches, first to MARIN 18 Green 25-16, 25-14, then to ITVC 18s 25-16, 18-25, 15-9. In its final match, NSD defeated Enspire 18 Tony 25-17, 25-22.
“Ater our first loss, the team was pretty down, so we had to rest and remember why we’re here,” Psalmonds said. “It’s not always wins and losses. It’s about improving, competing and playing the game we love. They responded well and turned it around.”
Tournament leaders were Carly Johnson with 27 kills, eight aces and nine blocks, Mati Mateer with 38 kills, 38 digs and five aces, AJ Wurm with 79 assists, 10 aces and 35 digs, and Triniti Kuecker with 16 kills and eight aces.
NSD has two tournaments remaining, beginning with the Far Western in Reno on April 17-19, and finally the Under Armour National Championships in Las Vegas on May 9-11.
