Lady Hornets close out four-set victory over Scouts

GANADO

The Ganado Lady Hornets on Saturday faced the Window Rock Lady Scouts volleyball team. It was a close match in each set with Ganado winning two before Window Rock came back and won the third set, drawing the game into a fourth. Ganado would emerge as the winner though after claiming the fourth, giving them three sets against Window Rock’s one and marking Ganado as the winner.

Ganado started the match with an ace in their second play, courtesy of Kiyarra Curtis. Ganado quickly put space between them and the Scouts, getting 10 points while Window Rock still had three.

Ganado’s Lauren Burns, Kayla Watchman and Kade Descheny each got an ace. Mikena Manuelito and Mikaela Bitsuie each made a dig while Mya Dalgai made successful blocks. Jaylen Hildreth made two successful blocks and Dalgai made three kills.

On Window Rock’s side, Melicia Nelson made the only ace for the set. Meanwhile, Maiara Smith, Cassidy Mike and Melicia Nelson each made a successful dig.

Taylor Shorty made four successful digs and Sunshine Benally made two. Hannah James made the only block of the game while Robey Talkalai made two kills. Ganado won the set with 25 to 22.

For set No. 2, the Lady Scouts picked up its game, making the first score and then sticking close to Ganado, never straying more than 2 points ways from Ganado as they fought for the lead.

Lady Hornet Burns came up with dig while Callista Shepherd and Curtis added two digs each. Dalgai made a successful block and then a kill. Shepard also made a kill. Curtis also scored an ace.

For the Lady Scouts, Shorty, Talkalai, Melicia Nelson, Tishyla Allen and Mikaela Roanhorse each got one dig. Meanwhile, Cassidy Mike performed a successful block. Benally made two successful digs and Roanhorse put down two kills and Allen one ace.

The game was tied at 24-all before Ganado capped the set with two points, winning the set 26 to 24.

In the third set, the Lady Scouts changed their strategy and went on the offense despite the Lady Hornets making the first score. The Lady Scouts surpassed them at the 2-point mark and didn’t give them time to catch up.

Ganado’s Burns, Descheny and Dalgai each got digs. Curtis and Dalgai both made two kills, Dalgai also made a successful block.

For Window Rock, both Benally and Shorty made two digs during this set. Nelson and Smith made successful blocks and James made two blocks. Mike and Roanhorse got one kill each. Roanhorse got one ace while Shorty scored two aces.

Window Rock won the third set with 25 points to 16, pushing the game into a fourth set.

Ganado quickly regained the initiative and ran away with the score while Window Rock steadily followed from behind. Eventually the Lady Scouts caught up and got close while the Lady Hornets maintained a 2-point lead.

Lady Hornets Mariah Lee, Curtis and Dalgai each made a single dig while Mikaela Bitsuie and Shepherd each made two digs. Hildreth and Descheny each made one block. Bitsuie made one kill and Dalgai made two. Dalgai also made an ace during the set.

Scouts’ Mike made one dig while Talkalai, Smith and Nelson each made two digs. Roanhorse and Talkalai each made one block each and Nelson one kill.

Both teams finally tied at 24 before Ganado broke free once again and scored the final two points, winning the set 26 to 24 and winning the game with three sets to Window Rock’s one.

Ganado’s head volleyball coach, Jerome Burns, said he is proud of his team’s performance.

“Today we started out a little stronger but Window Rock picked it up, got us worried in the third set,” Burns said, “it was a very good game, coach Peshlakai did a good job.”

Burns highlights Dalgai’s performance with her number of kills and blocks, which he attributes in winning the game. He also credits Hildreth, a starting freshman, who made a number of blocks and getting her experience.

Burns said he was happy he and his team got to play that day as well as seeing people going out to watch the games after a yearlong absence.

Window Rock head volleyball coach Geraldine Peshlakai is likewise proud of her team’s performance.

“Today’s game was outstanding because our team had started to play with more team support,” Peshlakai said, “They worked together.

“We had some awesome blocks, and they were really communicating, which is one of the things we were working on: covering so overall everybody did an awesome job.”

She credits her middle players, Hannah James and Alysia Nelson, for helping to secure the victory, as well as the team’s libero who did a good job covering the ball.

She also credits the team’s ability to adapt after two of their players were injured in the third set and they needed to change positions in the fourth set.

Peshlakai said her team is steadily improving, building up communications and teamwork between the new players and if confident, their skills will continue to grow as they continue to play.

Ganado is currently ranked No. 16 in Arizona and No. 3 in the 2A North standings despite being new to the conference. Its victory against Window Rock makes this its sixth win of the season.

For Window Rock this is the fifth loss of the season, but the team is still No. 2 in the 3A North region and ranked No. 27 in Arizona.

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