Nevada volleyball beats Montana

RENO - The University of Nevada volleyball team didn't want to disappoint in its home opener against Montana.

The Wolf Pack battled from behind for most of the night, winning in four games in Friday's round of the AT&T Invitational at the Virginia Street Gym. Nevada (3-1), which beat the Grizzlies (0-3) 30-22, 30-24, 33-35 and 30-23, takes on Pacific tomorrow at noon to conclude the three-day, three-team tournament.

"We're such a young group. We hope to get better every match," Nevada coach Devin Scruggs said.

Teal Ericson led the Wolf Pack with 22 kills at an attack percentage of .500. Jorgan Stacker recorded 13 kills (.524) and Carly Sorensen rounded out with 11 (.200). Tristin Johnson dished out 52 assists and Allison Hernandez ended with 14 digs in the libero position.

"I feel like we played well. I think we've improved every match," said Ericson, a junior outside hitter from Tahoe City. "Every match is looking better. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

Claudia Houle led Montana with 22 kills and Jade Roskam added 13. Shelley Boyd recorded 31 assists and Taryn Wright had 24.

Ericson said it felt nice playing at home after spending a two-day trip in Montana last weekend for the Montana State Tournament where Nevada finished 2-1.

"I love playing at home," she added. "Our fans are great. We play other schools and their fans aren't half the fans ours are."

Johnson agrees with her teammate.

"It's nice to play at home," Johnson said. "We had to compete with the football team being on TV."

The senior setter, though, felt she played decent against the Grizzlies. Johnson is frustrated about her mobility on the floor.

"I can't move as well as I would like. It seemed what I did the worst was blocking," Johnson added.

Both Scruggs and Johnson feel Ericson is starting to emerge as a leader by powering the offensive attack alongside Sorensen and Stacker.

"Teal's having a lot fun playing," Scruggs said. "She relishes that role and she's staying up."

"That's her job. It's to put the ball away," Johnson added.

Throughout the match, particularly in the third game when Nevada battled from a six-point deficit only to waste three match points, the 10th-year coach mixed her starting rotation with the freshman class. It includes Hacker, Lelani Kleman-Maeva, Katijo Matthews, Lauren Kelly and Sage Aune.

"With this many young freshman playing such vital roles, it makes us that much better," Scruggs said.

With the freshmen gaining experience from intense matches, it could make a difference with Nevada's style, especially when the conference season begins later in the month.

"We struggled putting the ball away in the third game. It was good for them (freshmen) to get experience of it," Johnson said.

According to Scruggs, Johnson in the setter position gives the team balance with the rotating freshmen players. "That's one of the advantages of a young group is having a senior setter," Scruggs said of the 2003 Fallon grad. "She keeps the nerves calm."

"We're young. We're trying to get our kinks worked out," Johnson said.