Now that the senior night is behind them, the Carson High volleyball players can focus on their run in the Northern 4A playoffs.
The Senators still looked like they were swept up by the emotion of the night in the firsrt two games, but by the third game they were firing on all cylinders and went on to beat Fallon 25-17, 25-20, 25-8 on Tuesday at Morse Burley Gym.
Carson must now likely pull off the upset at arch rival Douglas on Thursday in the regular season finale to earn the Sierra League's No. 3 seed in the zone playoffs. Even though the Tigers have already wrapped up the Sierra League's No. 1 seed, one could expect Douglas will do everything it can from losing its regular season finale on its home court against its rival.
If the Senators lose to Douglas, it likely means they'll play the High Desert League's top team, Reno High, in the first round. But for Carson coach Justin Malley it's pick your poison.
A No. 4 seed means a first round meeting with Reno. A No. 3 seed means a match with McQueen and then with a win would likely be another meeting with Douglas in the semifinals.
"We lose we go in as the fourth seed," said Malley about Thursday's match. "We win we go in as the third seed. There's a hiccup no matter where we're going. It just comes down to us having to play at that point."
Fallon took early leads in the first and second games on Tuesday. Carson trailed 6-4 when it rallied behind Kailey Taylor, who had a dink, a kill and an ace to give Carson a 9-7 lead.
Sara Parsons' block and Khaliah Brown's dink helped Fallon regain an 11-9 lead. But after that it was all Carson as the Senators took a 19-12 lead. Breanna Anderson served for the last five points, including two aces during the run.
After Fallon closed to within 20-17, Carson closed with a 5-0 run. Shannon Earwood had a dink and an ace, Taylor had a kill and Blaike King had two kills, including a kill on game point, during the run.
Fallon again led 6-4 in game two before Kristina Diamond's ace gave Carson an 8-7 lead. The Senators went up 18-13 on Samantha Hoch's kill and led 20-14 on Cameo Lomorri's kill and Diamond's second ace.
Mavil Diaz served for an ace as Carson built its lead to 23-16. Callie Black's block cut the deficit to 23-18 for Fallon but Carson went on to win on Nikki Keller's quick hit on game point.
The Senators were never threatened in game three as Nikki Keller served for five straight points during a run that gave CHS a 15-4 lead. Carson finished the match on the strength of three Anderson aces and two Danae Eckart kills. Anderson served back-to-back aces for the last two points of the match.
Anderson had five kills, six digs, five aces and two blocks, Taylor had six kills, three digs, one ace and one block, Hoch had two kills, Diamond had a kill and a dig, Eckart had four kills, 14 digs, one ace and one assist, Lomorri had three kills, seven digs, one ace and two assists, Diaz had seven digs and two aces, Earwood had three kills, one dig, one ace, one block and 37 assists and Keller had seven kills, one dig, two aces and two blocks.