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With a key test against Douglas coming up, there was no room for the Carson High School volleyball team to let down on Thursday.
No problem. Megan Anderson and Rachael DeRiemer combined to put down 25 kills and the Senators (10-3) cruised to a three-game sweep at home against the Reno Huskies during their Sierra League match at Morse Burley Gymnasium.
Carson won 15-9, 15-3, 15-8 to remain one game up on South Tahoe in the race for second-place in league. It's significant because the top two finishers in each of the Sierra and High Desert Leagues earn home court advantage for the opening round of the Northern 4A Regional Tournament next month.
The Senators travel to Minden on Saturday to face arch rival Douglas in a showdown between the Sierra League's first- and second-place teams. The varsity match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
But first, the Senators needed their win against Reno (4-10).
"This was another one of those matches we needed to win to stay on track to finish in the top two," Carson coach Daryl James said. "South Tahoe is right behind us, so we can't afford to stumble."
DeRiemer, a 5-foot-9 senior whose two kills and one block helped the Senators build an early 6-0 lead in game two.
"Most definitely. We want to go to zone and our goal is state, so we have to win everything," DeRiemer said.
"We played really well," said Anderson, who also had four blocks. "We needed to win so can get second."
The Senators spread their kills out among seven hitters, led by middle blocker Anderson with 13 and outside hitter DeRiemer with 12. Shannon Devereaux contributed five kills, Colleen Doyle and Kaitlyn Brush four each, Alyssa Wilson three and Terri Niederer two. Setter Tabitha Adams was credited with 36 assists.
"Tabbi sets them good," Anderson said, flashing a smile.
Anderson was especially effective in the middle in the third game when she put six balls down for sideout -- five kills on quick sets from Adams and one block.
"Megan is starting to hit the ball well," James said. "But they all did a good job. Megan, Alyssa and Terri in the middle; Rachael and Shannon on left side; Kaitlyn and Colleen on the right side.
"Like always, passing ia a big key, and we did pass the ball well tonight."
The Senators will need another solid performance on Saturday to get past a Douglas team they lost to in three straight games on Sept. 27.
"I'm really looking forward to that, just because we play with a lot of those girls in club and just playing them is a lot of fun, whether we win or not," DeRiemer said.
Carson's J.V. squad defeated Reno in two straight games and the Senators won the frosh match in three, 15-10, 11-15, 15-8. Elise Hunter scored 10 service points in the first game, while Samantha SiFuentes scored eight and Lindsey Kerr seven in the final game.