Carson High freshman Julie Salanoa puts away a kill against McQueen in the Class 5A North regional postseason quarterfinals. Salanoa and the Senators cruised to a 3-0 win and will play at top-seeded Reno Wednesday.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
Carson and McQueen High School volleyball had met three times this season and each meeting had been competitive.
That was until Monday night, when the fourth-seeded Senators (21-8, 9-7 in Class 5A North league play) steamrolled the fifth-seeded Lancers (24-9, 9-7) in straight sets – 25-10, 25-13, 25-16 – in the opening round of the Class 5A North regional postseason.
Carson will travel to take on No. 1 Reno (21-5, 15-1) Wednesday in the regional semifinals where the winner will not only make the Class 5A North regional championship, but also qualify for the state tournament.
For junior libero Ava Kordonowy, it marks her first postseason win in a Senator uniform.
“It was awesome making it, and sweeping them,” said Kordonowy.
Kordonowy has been infallible in the back row over the final stretch of the regular season and into the opening round of the playoffs, making diving saves consistently.
After serving an ace to end the opening set, Kordonowy made a couple of diving saves to keep Carson in points in each set.
With a 16-10 lead in the third set as Carson tried to put the Lancers away, McQueen powered a would-be kill to the Carson side.
It would’ve been a kill if not for Kordonowy and setter Madelyn Monson, who combined to steer a nearly assured Lancer kill into a Carson point.
Kordonowy says the instant reflexes come naturally.
“It’s kind of like muscle memory at this point. It’s just easy to grab balls up, even if it's not within distance,” said Kordonowy. “You just have to get the ball up. That’s the libero's job.”
Getting the timing right
Since Carson’s last loss to Reno on October 10, the Senators have won five of six contests.
Four of those wins have been with a three-set sweep.
“Honestly, its been our energy, heart and love for the game,” said Kordonowy. “Last year, there were a lot of off and ons. I think it’s our love for the game and how much we want to win.”
Reno has won both meetings this season, but neither have been cakewalks for the Huskies.
In their first meeting Carson pushed Reno to the brink, falling in the decisive fifth set, 15-12.
The second meeting, which was at Reno High, went four sets after the Senators stunned the Huskies in the opening set, 25-16.
This Carson team is confident after Monday night’s dominant first round win.
In their own words, Wednesday feels like a contest Carson can win.
“We’re the same skill level,” said Kordonowy.
Her head coach didn’t disagree.
“I think our offenses are actually pretty comparable. If our defense can play, I think we can take the game,” said head coach Brittany Witter. “Last time our defense was not where we needed it to be and our serve-receive was not strong. Now, we seem to have both sides of the game coming together.”
It’ll take consistent performances from everyone involved, but the Senators are at the stage of the season where everyone works all year to get to, competing for a ticket at state.
Tickets for Wednesday’s contest can be found and purchased through the NIAA website at this link: https://niaa.prestosports.com/tickets/index