Not that it didn't matter who won, but a late-season nonleague match like this can only benefit both teams involved.
But obviously both teams were playing to win, so while Yerington coach Anna Aiazzi and Carson coach Justin Malley both walked off the court basically knowing they got out of the match what their teams needed, Aiazzi likely walked off with a little bit more of a bounce in her step.
That's because Yerington overcame three match points in the third game en route to a 21-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-20, 16-14 comeback win over the Senators Monday night at Morse Burley Gym.
For the the Lions, the two-time defending NIAA 3A state champions, it was outstanding preparation for their upcoming effort to three-peat and their not done yet. They will take on another Northern 4A power, Reno High, on Wednesday.
"Getting these girls mentally prepared for zone and state so we don't have those lapses in momentum," Aiazzi said. "Carson's a good team. That's why we wanted to play them. I think playing 4A teams helps."
And for Malley, it was a chance to give as many players as much playing time as possible and Malley did just that in the third and fourth games. But to Yerington's credit, the Lions played on even terms with basically Carson's top unit in the fifth game and was able to pull out the win.
Malley stressed no matter what his lineup, nothing should diminish Yerington's win.
"I don't take anything away from what they did," Malley said. "They played a tough match. Credit to Yerington.
"I thought we played well at times and they played really well. They made more plays at the end of the match. I got everything that I wanted except the toughness to come back and win."
Carson took a 7-4 lead in game five on the strength of Kailey Taylor's kill. But three straight kills by arguably the state's best all-around player, Kayla Lommori, and then an ace by Lommori gave the Lions a 9-8 lead.
Breanna Anderson responded for Carson with a kill and Nikki Keller followed up with a quick hit on a set from Shannon Earwood and Anderson served an ace to put Carson back up 11-9. Blaike King followed with a kill from the backcourt to give Carson a 12-10 lead.
But Yerington went up 13-12 on Angela Marraccini's kill, and Courtney Clifton served an ace to put the Lions up 14-13. Elysse Virden answered with a kill for Carson to tie the score at 14, but Yerington went on to win on Lommori's kill on match point.
The Senators gave players like Bailey Young, Kendra Krupp, Brittney Sly and Samantha Hoch some much needed experience in the third and fourth games. They did everything that could have been asked of them except finish the deal in the third game.
Danae Eckart blocked Lommori to put Carson up 18-15. After Yerington closed to within 19-18, Keller's quick hit on Krupp's set gave Carson a 20-18 lead. Kings by Sly and Hoch and Young's ace gave Carson a 24-21 lead.
But Yerington closed the game with a 5-0 run as Lommori's third kill from the backcourt made it 24-23. Dama Cox then had a block to tie it at 24-all, and added a kill on match point to give Yerington the win.
"I don't know what turned it around," Aiazzi said. "It definitely set the momentum for the fourth and fifth games."
Carson played virtually the entire fourth game without two of their frontline players in King and Keller, and much of the game without Earwood. With Yerington up 15-11, Earwood entered and Carson cut the deficit to 17-15.
But then Malley put Young in so he could see a rotation with Earwood at outside hitter and Young at setter, and Yerington regained control going up 20-15. Eckart's kill from the backcourt cut the deficit to 20-16, but the Lions never really lost control.
Anderson served for the last five points, including three aces to put game three away.
Carson trailed 19-18 in game one, but closed with a 7-2 run as Cameo Lomorri's dink and kill off the tape made it 24-21 and was followed by Keller's kill on game point.
Lommori had 21 kills, seven digs and six blocks, Cox had eight kills, Alex Roberts had five blocks, Rani Williams had nine digs and Kiara Ross added 30 assists for Yerington.
For Carson, Taylor had six digs and two blocks, Eckart had four kills, 23 digs, one block and one ace, Lomorri had eight kills, seven digs and one ace, Mavil Diaz had 17 digs and one ace, Earwood had three kills, eight digs, two aces and 40 assists, Young had three kills, three digs, one ace and five assists, Sly had two kills, four digs and two blocks, Keller had eight kills, King had eight kills, two blocks and five aces, Virden had four kills and two blocks, Hoch had three kills and Krupp added five assists.
CHS FROSH 2, YERINGTON 0
Carson won the freshmen match 25-18, 25-13.
Alyson Christl had two kills and a block, Tiana McAllister-Daggs had one ace, three kills and two blocks, Christa McGahuey had three kills, three aces and a block, Laura Mohlenkamp had twill kills, Kahlia Pimental had one dig, Micaela Vowinkel had five kills, Sarah Lushina had one ace, one kill and 11 assists and Angela Augusta added two kills for Carson.