Jade Chapman, far left, and Francesca Antonucci, left, hug while the rest of the Sierra Lutheran volleyball team celebrates clinching a spot in the Class 1A state volleyball tournament.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Sierra Lutheran volleyball knew what was at stake Saturday afternoon in the Class 1A West regional tournament that was being hosted on the Falcons’ home floor.
The Falcons have produced a modest amount of success on the floor in the last decade, but there was still one box the program hadn’t checked in the last 11 years – a trip to the state tournament.
Saturday, after a 3-0 sweep of Pyramid Lake, the celebration ensued on the home side of the Falcon gymnasium.
“It’s the first time in 11 years that our program has qualified for state,” said senior captain Mikaela Christenson. “It’s an incredible feeling, seeing those last four years pay off.”
The Falcons will open the Class 1A state tournament against the top seed from the 1A South in GV Christian (20-9) Thursday at 4:45 p.m. at Clark High School.
Should Sierra Lutheran win its opener, the Falcons would play in the state semifinals Friday at 1 p.m.
The Class 1A state championship game is Saturday at 10 a.m.
Finding the right timing
In the Falcons last match of the season, they lost in five sets to Coleville – a squad that Sierra Lutheran had already beaten twice to that point in the season.
Dropping the regular season finale could’ve caused the team to recoil, but the Falcons took advantage of their regional route, including a first round bye.
Against the Lakers on Saturday, it was about as clean as Sierra Lutheran could’ve asked for, taking the match in straight sets – 25-16, 25-21, 25-20.
On the attack, seniors Jade Chapman and Francesca Antonucci led the way with five kills apiece while junior Samantha Steyn posted four kills of her own.
Antonucci was the team’s leader in kills this season with 72.
“I think this season, especially with our team, we have really worked together,” said Chapman. “It’s felt like a family and we’ve made the connections. It shows on the court.”
It’s a balanced attacked for the Falcons, who have been rotating between seven and eight starters this season.
“We have people like Jade or Sam Steyn, who sell out for every single ball,” said Christenson. “Francesca is finding confidence in her blocking, that definitely makes a difference too.”
Steyn led the Falcons in digs in the regional semis with 20 while Chapman and Christenson had 13 and 12, respectively.
Steyn has posted 109 digs throughout the season to this point.
Senior Maddy Schiro had four aces while Christenson added three aces to her season total of 32.
“Mikaela’s serves also carried us this season,” added Chapman.
In the regional final, the Falcons ran into top-seeded Smith Valley and a Bulldog team that had yet to drop a set in league play this season.
That trend continued as the Bulldogs won 25-17, 25-14, 25-17 to take the regional crown.
“It was so wonderful and it was such good closure to finish out our four years on this court,” said Chapman.
There will be a lot of Uno played on the Falcons’ bus ride down to Las Vegas.
That has become a staple for players on the team.
Now, the attention turns to finishing a historic season, 11 years in the making.
(Sierra Lutheran senior captain Mikaela Christenson goes up to attack a ball against Pyramid Lake in the Class 1A West regional semifinal. The Falcons bested the Lakers to punch their ticket to the Class 1A state volleyball tournament. Carter Eckl / Nevada Appeal)