Nevada volleyball sweeps six matches, wins Clinton tourney

The Nevada Lady Tiger volleyball is all smiles after dispatching the competition at the Clinton Volleyball Tournament. Pictured front row, from left: Sydney Ernsbarger, Hailey Jackson, Laiken Cussimanio, and Adrian Bond. Back row, l-r: Volunteer assistant Tate Thoreson, Julia Cassidy, Teagan Charles, Lindley Ferry, Lani Coonrod, Stacy Pennington, Laney Coons, Lindy Smith, and Head Coach Ashley Thoreson.

Submitted photo

The Nevada Lady Tiger volleyball team has been in dominant form for much of the season, and remained that way at Saturday’s Clinton Tournament, sweeping six matches en route to the tourney championship.

The half-dozen victories at the late-season tournament upped Nevada’s record to 24-6.

Nevada opened pool play with a trio of two-set victories over Butler High School (25-15, 25-15), Hillcrest High (25-14, 25-10), and host Clinton High (25-17, 25-15).

Upon advancing to the quarterfinals, Nevada dispatched Bolivar in emphatic fashion — 25-7, 25-11. Against Harrisonville in the semifinals, Nevada notched its fifth consecutive two-set victory — 25-14, 25-8, setting up a title match clash with Warrensburg.

Nevada’s lone blemish on the day came in the first set, as Warensburg prevailed, 25-23. Nevada then bounced back, eking out a 25-22 second set victory. The third and decisive set was all Nevada, as the Lady Tiger spikers left little doubt with a 25-14 match-set triumph.

Per head coach Ashley Thoreson, Nevada stat leaders included setter Hailey Jackson’s 107 assists and eight aces; OH Adrian Bond (45 digs, 41 kills); defensive specialist Lani Conrad (41 digs, seven aces); and middle hitter Lindley Ferry (26 kills, 13 blocks).