Let's face the Carson High volleyball team hasn't had the reputation for winning big matches over the years.
So after Carson had lost the last two games against Manogue heading into the fifth and deciding game on Tuesday at Morse Burley Gym, CHS coach Justin Malley had a message for his players.
"Nobody believes Carson's capable of doing this," said Malley about what he told his team. "If you believe this go do it. Credit to them, they had a big last game."
Carson ended up dominated Manogue, one of the Sierra League's powers, on its way to a 25-23, 25-16, 17-25, 18-25, 15-6 win that the Senators hope will give them momentum on their way to possibly strengthening their Northern 4A playoff position.
A major reason why the Senators were even in position to win was an amazing comeback in game one in which it overcame a 17-3 deficit on their way to the win. Malley said the comeback was reminescent of a comeback his team made earlier this year at the Las Vegas Tournament in which the Senators overcame 13-6 and 14-7 deficits to win a game 16-14.
"They've shown a lot of mental toughness throughout the season," Malley said. "They never believe they're out of any game which is a tremendous trait. I just wished they wouldn't have to keep showing it."
The Senators were down so big in game one because they couldn't handle the serving of Manogue's Grace Anxo, who served for 13 straight points to give the Miners a 14-1 lead.
"She just served the crap out of the ball," Malley said. "I've never seen someone served that well for that long of time."
After Carson fell behind 17-3, it was still trailing 19-10 when Breanna Anderson's kill began a 10-0 run that gave the Senators a 20-19 lead. Anderson added back-to-back aces and Shannon Earwood's dink concluded the run that made it 20-19
With the Senators up 21-20, it appeared Manogue regained control when it took a 23-21 lead. But the Senators had one more comeback in them, scoring the last four points with Earwood serving an ace on game point.
Earwood picked up from where she left off in game one, serving for the first five points to give Carson a 5-0 lead. Earwood served for three aces during the run. Carson never lost control, with Kailey Taylor nailing a quick hit off of Earwood's set for a kill on game point.
Earwood got off to a hot start again in game three with a dink and an ace that gave the Senators a 2-0 lead. But from that point on, Manogue took control of the third and fourth games, setting the stage for game five.
Anderson's dink and ace gave Carson a 2-1 lead and Nikki Keller served for an ace to begin a run in which she served for five straight points to give the Senators an 8-2 lead. Earwood's block and ace gave Carson a 10-3 lead and Elysse Virden's block gave Carson a 14-5 lead as it cruised to the win.
Anderson had 13 kills, 10 digs, four aces and a block, Kailey Taylor had seven kills and four blocks, Danae Eckart had 20 digs, Cameo Lomorri had two kills, a block, an ace and 13 digs, Mavil Diaz had 10 digs, Earwood had three kills, three blocks, seven aces and 40 assists, Keller had six kills, four blocks and an ace, Blaike King had 12 kills, two aces and 15 digs and Virden had five kills and three blocks for CHS.
DOUGLAS 3, GALENA 0
Douglas (28-1, 9-0) beat Galena (11-14, 3-7) 25-14, 25-21, 25-15. Taryn Williams had 11 kills, five points, two aces, eight digs and four blocks, Jessica Waggoner had seven kills, 10 points, two aces and 12 blocks, Jourdan Burke had five kills, three digs and two blocks, Megan Mitchell had four kills, 14 points, 20 assists, three aces and three blocks, Rebecca Antti had two kills, five points, eight digs and three blocks, Emily Garcia had three blocks and one assist, Christine DuPuis had two kills, Shannon Dugan had one block and dig, Jackie Harper had one block, one point and three assists, Jamie Lorntzen had one block, Mysta Townsell had 10 digs, four points and three aces, Mia Townsell had three digs and Jordan Marsh added two digs, eight points and one ace for Douglas.
Emily Aguiar had seven kills and 11 blocks, Brooke Keever had three kills, Kim Naut had three kills, Whitney Robinson had three kills, Bree Crook had six blocks, 12 digs and 19 assists, Chelsea Matteoni had 10 digs and one ace, Casey Burke had 10 digs and Ciera Luchich added five blocks for Galena.
Douglas (15-3, 7-2) won the junior varsity match 25-20, 25-16 and Douglas (12-3, 8-1) won the freshmen match 25-17, 25-27, 15-5.
CHS FROSH 2, MANOGUE 0
Carson (9-0 in league) won the freshmen match 25-18, 25-12. Angela Augusta had one kill, Kristalei Wolfe had two assists and six points, Sarah Lushina had one ace, three kills and 11 assists, Erin Bailey had five digs, Micaela Vowinkel had three aces, three kills and two blocks, Laura Mohlenkamp had three digs, Alyson Christl had six kills, two aces and six assists, Tiana McAllister-Daggs had two kills, one ace and one dig, Lisa Rogers had two digs and Christa McGahuey added two kills for CHS.