RENO - Like a coyote gnawing on its prey, the Bishop Manogue volleyball team nipped at Galena's heels, challenging the Grizzlies in the High Desert League
showdown at the Miners' gym.
"Manogue didn't give up. They had started serving a little bit harder and they put some balls down," Galena coach Teresa Burrows said.
The two-time defending state champs prevented the Miners from recording the upset as Galena won 25-15, 25-18, 23-25 and 25-22 Tuesday night to stay in contention for the league's top seed for next week's regional tournament.
Nancy Burrows led the Grizzlies (9-2 league, 19-10 overall) with a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs, and Amy Scott also recorded a double-double. Scott finished with 10 kills and 10 blocks, and Madison Hardy dished out 38 assists. Casey Burke tallied 11 kills, Micaella Lim had nine digs and Brooke Keever added eight blocks.
Burrows noted inconsistency in Galena's offensive and defensive approach and said that it has been common this season.
"We have our inconsistent moments," she said. "We're still a little young in some spots. Their focus kind of wavers a little bit. We're working on it."
Burrows was pleased with her middle row and the defense when it mattered the most.
"Our middles ran pretty quick," Burrows said. "When we needed to we passed well. That was pretty consistent.
"Defensively, we stepped up at the end and did some nice jobs. We did what we needed to win."
After jumping out to a seven-point lead (11-4) in the third game, Galena saw Bishop Manogue slowly come back to tie the game at 17 and take the lead, 19-18.
Burrows said her team played too comfortable after racing out to the early lead.
"We wanted to coast. We have the tendency of wanting to coast after we do that," Burrows said. "We're already up two games to nothing and we jump out in the third already in command. They just kind of wanted to stand there and let it happen."
Galena hosts Reed Thursday night at 6 p.m. for the final match of the regular season.
A Galena win will give the Grizzlies the No. 1 seed from the HDL while a loss could put them in a three-way tie with McQueen and Fallon. Galena holds the edge over McQueen with a season sweep. Galena, though, split its two games with Fallon.
"We have the tiebreaker over them (McQueen). Then we would be tied with Fallon," Burrows said. "I don't know how the tiebreaker would work there. We plan on not losing. We don't have necessarily a lot of control on that."
Burrows, though, said Reed cannot be overlooked. The Raiders had Fallon down two games last week only to see the Greenwave win in five.
"Everybody's improved. They're a good team," Burrows said of Reed. "They put up a strong block when they're in rhythm. They're pretty tough. Its going to be a nice tuneup for regionals."