Carson High's volleyball match against Reno High on Tuesday at Morse Burley Gym was a microcosm of how its season has gone so far.
The young Senators put together an impressive run to win game three, but also had its struggles and fell in four games, 20-15, 17-25, 25-16, 18-25 against one of the Northern 4A's top teams. Reno, which has a five-game win over Damonte Ranch, another one of the Northern 4A's top teams, figures to be one of the clubs in a wide open fight for the Northern 4A title.
"We are a roller coaster," Carson coach Shana Wilkins said. "If we want to play well we have the skills."
Carson faces another key match at home on Thursday against rival Douglas in a contest that will have playoff implications. The Tigers easily beat the Senators in three games in their first meeting at Douglas.
It looked like Reno was well on its way to a three-game sweep when it led 12-6 in game three.
Blaike King's kill made it 13-8 for Carson. The Senators still trailed 15-10 when the put together a 15-1 run to take the game. Carson couldn't sustain its momentum in game four, but it was fun while it lasted.
Sandie Howard's quick hit off of Lindsay Ford's set, Ford's ace and King's dink tied it at 15-15. Danae Eckart's dink, another ace by Ford and two King kills finised off a string of eight straight points served by Ford that gave the Senators a 19-16 lead. Eckart's block and kill kept the momentum with Carson as King served the last five points of the game.
Carson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game four on Nicole Carlevato's kill. But Reno regained control, although Carlevato did what she could to keep Carson in the game. She had a kill and an ace and King had a kill as the Senators closed to within 8-6.
Kailey Taylor had two kills and Ford had a dink as Carson closed to within 14-11. But Reno continued to pull away, with Morgan Nuckolls picking up up two kills to bring Carson within 20-14. But that would be as close as the Senators would come.
Other than game four, Wilkins said her team never got into a rhythm. "We didn't really get the flow going," she said. "We didn't have a lot of energy."
King had seven kills, Carlevato had four kills and five digs, Taylor had five kills, Nikki Keller had three kills, two blocks and three digs, Mavil Diaz had seven digs, Breanna Anderson had six digs and Ford had six blocks, three digs, one kill, two aces and 30 assists.
CHS FROSH 2, RENO 0
Carson won the freshmen match 25-13, 25-11. Sara Anderson had four kills, 11 aces and 13 assists, Bree Young had two kills and four aces, Andrea Clutska had seven kills, seven aces and two blocks, Heather Sheeks had one ace, Caitlin Berkich had two digs, Skylar Petersen had three kills, one dig and 10 aces, Kendra Krupp had three kills and Alexis Church added a kill.