The Sierra Lutheran High School volleyball team took second place at the Austin tournament in September.
The Falcons arrived in Austin with six players, the minimum for a team. After qualifying fourth out of five teams on the first day, Sierra Lutheran went on in the double-elimination bracket to take second after falling to Austin in the championship.
Cameo Lommori registered 13 blocks in the tournament with Shaina Renner putting up two blocks and Ariel Votipka adding one block.
Jackie Latragna was there to provide all of the setting for the games with Tori Swearingen and Shauna Johnson providing serves and returns to support the team.
Renner was out part of the seeding match against Gerlach with an ankle injury, leaving the team to play with five.
During the second day, Johnson was suffering from a badly-strained back, but the team came together and pulled through to take home the second-place trophy.
The Falcons have put up a 3-4 record on the year thus far, with wins against Excel Christian in Sparks and a doubleheader sweep of Gerlach.
Ashley Borgman had one block against Gerlach with Lommori posting three blocks and five kills, Renner with one block and three kills, Swearingen with one kill and Votipka with one block.
"They are learning to adjust to new coaches and new positions, as well as adjusting to each other," Sierra Lutheran coach Inger Aiono said. "This year will be a great time of learning, competition and good sportsmanship for this small but competitive team."
The junior varsity Falcons are 0-3 on the year but have been making significant improvement early on in the season.
Tesla Callahan posted one block against Coleville and Votipka one kill against the Smith Valley in a recent outing.
Both squads will take on Smith Valley in the Falcons' first home match of the season Thursday at the Stewart Gym in Carson City at 4 p.m. (junior varsity) and 5 p.m. (varsity). For more schedule information, visit www.sierralhs.com.
CROSS COUNTRY
Sierra Lutheran's Taylor Love took sixth place out of 124 runners in the North Tahoe cross country meet earlier this season with Michael Kubel placing 30th in the varsity run that covered a hilly and fairly strenuous course.
Running for the frosh/soph division this year are Ryan Jackson, Jonah Young, Zach Borgman, Andrew Deterding and Levi Grabow. Grabow and Deterding placed in this division.
Coach Dave Marson has a good group of runners this year.
Last year, Love placed 10th in the state competition and in looking to repeat this year with Kubel joining him.
The team next runs at Fernley Friday.
