Douglas starters, reserves stop Carson rally

Douglas High volleyball coach Suzi Townsell found out Wednesday night that she will be able to count on her complementary players in the upcoming regional playoffs.

The Tigers used their entire roster en route to a 25-12, 25-23 and 28-26 victory over archrival Carson in a Sierra League battle at Morse Burley Gymnasium.

Jourdan Burke, one of the top players in the region, didn't play at all in the third game for the Tigers, and teammate Shannon Dugan played just a few points in the final game.

"We mixed up our lineup in the second and third games," said Townsell. "There are 15 of us and I wanted to give everybody playing time, especially since it was our last league game. If something happens (to one of the starters) we can put subs in and still play through it.

"Also, we were looking for people who could not only serve, but play in the back row, too."

Carson started fast in the opening game, using kills by Tiana McAllister-Daggs and Elysse Virden plus a kill and stuff block by Jeanette VanSickle to take an early 6-3 advantage.

The Tigers roared back, scoring 15 of the next 17 points to grab a 16-8 lead. Burke contributed a kill and Dugan served up three straight aces. Becca Antti also had an ace in the barrage.

"We started fast," Carson coach Justin Malley said. "I have no idea what caused the light switch to go off.

"It looked like they were going after our libero (Alexis Church) on those serves. She had been playing lights out the last two weeks, and she went from being backup to winning the starting job. She wasn't moving her feet."

Carson cut the deficit to 16-9, but Douglas scored nine of the next 12 to end the opening set. Emily Garcia had two kills and then teamed with Dugan to block McAllister-Daggs. Setter Jackie Harper also contributed an ace.

Douglas led the bulk of the second game, as Burke had two key stuff blocks and Dugan hammered home two kills off the hands of Carson defenders for a 14-9 lead.

Carson stormed back, scoring 12 of the next 16 for a 21-18 lead thanks to the play of Bailey Valente, Virden, Kristalee Wolfe and McAllister-Daggs. Valente had an ace and a kill, McAllister-Daggs had a nice tip, Virden had two kills and Wolfe had a kill.

Valente gave Carson a nice spark after being sidelined with injury problems all year.

"She's a good player," Malley said. "She's very aggressive. She would have made a big difference this year."

Douglas rallied back and Carson was unable to answer.

A ballhandling mistake, a long spike by VanSickle plus kills by Brenna White and Burke keyed a 4-0 run and gave the Tigers a 22-21 lead. Virden tied the game with a nice spike off the hands of a Douglas defender. The Tigers scored three of the next four to close out the game, as Dugan punched in the game-winner.

The final game was tied seven different times, and both teams made plenty of mistakes. Between the teams there were five service errors.

Carson used two Douglas mistakes to take a 9-8 lead, but the Tigers scored six of the next eight for a 14-11 lead. The surge started with three Carson mistakes, but Carly McCullough pounded one off a Carson defender and Hailey Sclafani served up an ace.

Douglas led 20-15, but a kill by Virden and a block by McAllister-Daggs cut the deficit to 20-18. A kill by Erin Allison made it 21-18, but Carson bounced back and made it 21-20 on a kill by Wolfe and a net violation.

A kill by McCullough and an ace by Allison made it 23-20 and Carson rallied to 23-22 thanks to a kill by Wolfe and a combined block by VanSickle and Valente. The Tigers served for the match at 24-22, but two kills by VanSickle enabled Carson to take a 25-24 lead. Garcia's kill tied the game at 25. It stayed tied at 26, and then Douglas scored two straight when VanSickle's spike sailed long and Angela Augusta hit into the net to end it.

"We played tough the last two games," Malley said. "Douglas just made one or two more plays down the stretch the last two games."

Virden finished with seven kills and three blocks, VanSickle had six kills and four blocks, Brittany Wyatt had 12 digs and Meagan Nuckolls finished with 17 assists.

Carson closes out its home season Monday at 6 p.m. against Spanish Springs and then visits Yerington on Tuesday.