Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gorman, Centennial take different paths to semis

- By Jason Orts

Bishop Gorman and Centennial have taken much different paths to reach the first Class 5A state girls volleyball tournament.

Gorman has been the state’s top program over the past five seasons, while Centennial has been rebuilding this season with a new coach and two players with varsity experience.

Gorman sailed through the 5A Mountain League without a loss. Centennial finished fourth in the same league but pulled off upsets of Palo Verde and Silverado to clinch a berth in the state tournament before falling to Gorman in three sets in the regional final.

“When we played Gorman on Saturday, I think half of (our players) were going to throw up,” Centennial coach Kendalyn Hartsock said. “They were so nervous. We’d played them before, but it was the stage of a regional final and everybody being there. I just hope the next time we face them, we can stay composed.”

That next meeting would be Saturday if both get past their semifinals. Gorman faces Reno at 5 p.m. Friday, while Centennial meets Bishop Manogue.

The 4A and 1A state tournament­s will begin Thursday. The 4A semifinals will be played at Faith Lutheran, with Sierra Vista facing Liberty at 5 p.m., followed by Arbor View taking on Rancho at 7 p.m. The 1A quarterfin­als will be played at Hug High in Reno.

Gorman (29-6) had an advantage on much of its competitio­n because of a shortened spring season that allowed it to mesh a talented group of now-sophomores with its leaders and upperclass­men such as setter Caroline Edgeworth and outside hitter Sophia Ewalefo.

“It was essential because we were able to take on more girls than we normally could, so we could work through different rotations,” Edgeworth said. “There were five freshmen, so just getting them playing with us, getting the plays and chemistry down helped us through this year.”

But after an unbeaten run through the Mountain League, the Gaels faced a two-set deficit to Faith Lutheran in their first match of the regional tournament before rallying to win in five sets.

“The good outcome from that was that we realized when things aren’t going our way we’ve got a plan,” Gorman coach Gregg Nunley said.

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