Carson volleyball goes to 8-0

There was nothing spectacular. It was just another match for the Carson High School volleyball team - and another win.

In fact, the Senators barely broke a sweat on their way to a straight-set victory against Hug on Tuesday night that extended their perfect conference record to 8-0 at Morse Burley Gymnasium.

The Senators won 15-7, 15-6, 15-4 against a Hug squad that is now winless in six conference matches.

"I'm happy to win," Carson coach Daryl James said. "These are the ones we need to get. We just need to keep plugging away because we have some big games coming up."

Carson leads the Sierra League, but host second-place Douglas next Tuesday and face another important test the following week against defending 4A state champion Fallon. The Senators definitely want to take their win streak as far as possible.

"It's nice to be undefeated. It's a challenge; there's pressure, but it's a pressure we like to have," said senior setter Ryanne Amodei. "I think we're playing very well now. If we're focused and play well together, I think we'll have a very good season."

Amodei handed out 21 assists to go with two digs, one block and an ace for the Senators, who trailed 7-0 in the first game but shut down the Hawks the rest of the way.

Carson again featured a balanced attack at the net. Kaitlin Leck was credited with eight kills, Megan Anderson and Jennifer Saunders seven each, Katie Dill five, Rachael DeRiemer four. Anderson contributed four blocks, DeRiemer two blocks and Leck three digs.

The 8-0 start is the best Carson volleyball has experienced in a while. Possibly the best since 1987, when the James-coached Senators swept through the conference season without a season and went on to win the zone tournament championship. That marks Carson's last zone volleyball title.

"I have no clue how long it's been," James said, referring to the 8-0 start. "I know we're doing fine right now, but we still have a long way to go."

DOUGLAS 3, RENO 1

Senior setter Jamie McCreary triggered a balanced attack that carried Douglas (6-1) to a win at home against third-place Reno. The Tigers won 15-2, 15-1, 9-15, 15-13

"It was a good win, a real good win," Douglas coach Scott Akimoto said. "We're playing pretty steady as a group right now."

McCreary had 43 assists, four kills and six digs for the Tigers. Sophomore middle blocker Emily Haas had 12 kills, three aces and eight digs, while Andrea Honer contributed 10 kills, one ace and six digs. Chelsey Myers had seven kills and 12 digs, Jencie LeJeune five kills, three aces and four digs.

Jennifer McCrosky came off the bench to give the Tigers a spark at the end of game four. With Reno leading, 12-10, McCrosky stepped up to the service line and rang up five straight points to close out the victory for Douglas. Two of the five points came on aces.

Douglas hosts Hug on Thursday before its first-place showdown at Carson.

"That'll be a real fun match up," Akimoto said. "Both teams are playing well and I know we'll both be ready to play."