If there was ever a match that represented the young Carson High volleyball team this season, Wednesday's contest at Morse Burley Gym against McQueen was it.
The Senators went toe-to-toe with one of the Northern 4A's top teams for five games, but once again were plagued by inconsistent play down the stretch in a 31-29, 23-25, 25-17, 18-25, 15-10 loss.
The fifth game was especially a microcosm of Carson's season. The Senators fell behind 7-1, came back to tie the score 7-7, only to falter down the stretch.
Carson coach Shana Wilkins was hoping to find out more about her team against McQueen, which is tied for first in the High Desert League with Galena. But Wilkins made it clear she wasn't in the mood for any moral victories even though her team took the Lancers to the brink.
"I really don't know," said Wilkins about where he team stands. "I really couldn't tell you."
Carson lost despite having 52 kills. "How do you lose with 52 kills?" Wilkins asked.
Wilkins may have been in a better mood if not for a tough call in the third game. If not for that call, the Senators may have very well swept McQueen.
It's back to business for Carson tonight at South Tahoe. With a win, the Senators would clinch a playoff spot. Even with a loss, the Senators would be in good position to make the playoffs, but it would leave them with little margin for error.
After the colossal struggle in game one, Carson jumped out to a 7-4 lead in game two only to see McQueen go ahead 11-9.
The Senators took a 15-14 lead on the strength of Blaike King's kill and appeared to go up 16-14 on Nikki Keller's block. But it was ruled that Lindsay Ford's arm hit the net on the play, making the score 15-15.
That turned out to be the turning point of the game - and really the match. McQueen used the momentum to take a 20-16 lead, although Carson did fight back.
Shannon Earwood's dink made it 21-19. Ford then made a terrific save and Kailey Taylor went on to put away a kill on Ford's quick hit to make it 21-20. Carson actually took a 23-22 lead before McQueen scored the last three points.
Taylor's kill after another great save by Ford gave Carson a 15-13 lead in game three. Two more kills by Taylor, Breanna Anderson's ace off the tape and Nicole Carelvato's kill helped extend Carson's lead to 20-14. The Senators put the game away on another kill by Taylor, Nikki Keller's block, two kills by Carlevato and Ford's dink.
Carson was down 14-12 in game four when McQueen went on a 9-0 run to take a 21-12 lead on its way to forcing a fifth game.
Taylor's kill gave Carson a 1-0 lead before McQueen reeled off seven straight points. Kills by Keller and Morgan Nuckolls and Danae Eckart's block tied the score 7-7, but McQueen went up 11-7. Nuckolls' kill cut the deficit to 11-8, but the Senators couldn't come any closer.
Taylor had 16 kills and four blocks, Nuckolls had eight kills, two aces, four digs and a block, Keller had five kills, six blocks, five digs and an ace, Earwood had seven kills, one block and four digs, Eckart had five kills, three blocks and two digs and Ford had three kills, five blocks, six digs and 52 assists.
CHS JVS 2, MCQUEEN 0
Carson won the junior varsity match 25-20, 25-22. Brittney Sly had four kills, one ace, one block and one dig, Kristina Diamond had five kills, Brittany Wyatt had 12 digs, Ashley Anderson had five digs and an ace, and Meagan Nuckolls added 11 assists.
CHS FROSH 2, MCQUEEN 1
Carson won the freshmen match 23-25, 25-21, 15-9. Andrea Clutska had six kills and an ace, Sara Anderson had two blocks and 20 assists, Bree Young had nine kills, two digs and two blocks, Katie Carlevato had one dig and three aces, Kendra Krupp had two kills and two blocks, Kaitlin Berkich had one kill, five digs and one ace and Alexis Church had three digs.