Carson squeaks out five-set win over Douglas volleyball

It took five sets, but Carson High School volleyball came away with a win over Douglas in dramatic fashion Tuesday in Minden.

The Senators and Tigers went back and forth, splitting the first four sets – 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25 – before Carson was able to win the fifth set, 15-12.

“I think the key difference was our energy and our serving,” said senior libero Ava Kordonowy. “Our serving was rough in the beginning, but we got it together.”

Carson sophomore Emma Sanders closed out the match with an ace for the final point. It was the third ace of the final set as Kordonowy and Clarissa Quintana each had one as well.

The Senators also needed five sets to topple Douglas last season as well.

“I think it’s just Douglas,” said Quintana, who had a kill late in the fifth set to put Carson in front, 13-9. “I kind of came out my shell a little bit.”

Sanders and junior Abby Franco were the main pillars of attack for Carson in the final set.

Franco put away two kills and had a tip kill to give Carson a 7-6 lead in Tuesday’s final set. Sanders followed with a pair of kills before her match-sealing ace.

“She’s just a breath of fresh air. When you see the ball set to Emma you’re like ‘okay, we’re good,’” said Kordonowy.

Going into the fifth set of a meaningful league match against your rival can be stressful, but the two seniors feel like they have pieces they can count on in crunch time.

“I look at Abby Franco. She is the one who pulls me together. Also, Ava she is there to make me calm down,” said Quintana.

“I look at our bench. Our bench has such great energy, so it kind of hypes everyone else up,” said Kordonowy. “I think that’s what brings us back in the game.”

TIGERS BATTLE LATE

Despite falling behind twice Tuesday, Douglas battled back winning the second and fourth sets to tie the contest up both times.

In the fifth, the Tigers jumped ahead early, but Carson’s attack at the net was just a bit better in the finish.

Douglas head coach Suzi Townsell thought the defense could’ve been better in the pivotal moments.

The fourth set was a bright spot for Douglas with its back against the wall.

An ace from Sumer Williams and a kill from Parker Estes put the Tigers up 10-7 midway through the fourth.

Estes out away two more kills a few points later, pushing Douglas’ lead to 17-11.

“Our serve got a little bit better,” said Townsell. “We were nice and simple. … I think we were attacking better. … I think our passing was probably a little bit better, too.”

UP NEXT: Carson (12-1, 4-1 in Class 5A North league play) traveled out to Reno (9-6, 5-1) Wednesday night.

Douglas (6-8, 3-5 in Class 5A North league play) will be back at home Thursday night against McQueen (12-5, 4-4).

(Carson High's Abby Franco (1) goes up for a block against Douglas Tuesday night. / Ron Harpin)