Volleyball Team Opens Season

Six games were on tap for the young Eureka Vandal girls volleyball team last weekend at a preseason tournament in Yerington

“We played six matches and lost five of the six,” said coach Katie Benson, “but we are a young team with only two seniors and six sophomores.”

On Friday we played three matches with Elko, Yerington JV and North Tahoe. We lost the Elko and North Tahoe matches 2-0, but won the match with Yerington JVs 2-0.”

Saturday’s schedule had three more matches for the Lady Vandals, Beatty, Coleville and Pahrump, but losing each match. However, it was a 2-1 score with Coleville.

Benson said, “Josie Hoekenga did well on the attack for us. Carlie Wells did a good job, too.”

What Benson said the biggest problems that showed for the young Vandals are the service-receive and passing aspects of the game plus defense.

She noted, “As the tournament went on, things began to get better for us and I see us improving as we know what to work on, doing better every weekend from now on.”

This weekend, the girls play in the 12-team Battle Mountain tournament. Because of the large field, the first day’s action, and part of Saturday will be devoted to pool play. “Our pool includes Carlin, Battle Mountain, Owyhee, Silver State, and West Wendover.”

Championship action will be played Saturday afternoon.

Eureka is the defending tournament champion, but with a much younger team, Benson does not know what to expect.

The Lady Vandals first home matches will be against Round Mountain and Tonopah Sept. 13-14.