Muckers make too many errors to defeat Panthers

The Tonopah High school Lady Muckers volleyball team could not repeat the great feat of last year, when they beat the Pahranagat Valley Panthers for the state title. This year in a game, which decided the League title they lost in four (16-25, 25-20, 17-25 and 16-25) at home in an intense and hard-fought game (1-3).

The Muckers will get a chance for a rematch as long as they don’t lose any playoff games and could possibly play Pahranagat Valley two more times, once for the regional title and once for the state title.

Tonopah Coach Harvey Gonzalez’s team wanted to do well in their last game for the fans, but the girls seemed a little nervous in the first match, which caused some unusual mistakes in offense and defense as well.

“We worked hard in practice to prepare for Alamo. We just did not play our game, we also had mental mistakes and lost composure. One of the problems was that we did not move our feet. We could not pass and our serving was horrible,” Gonzalez said after the game.

Gonzalez knew going into the game his team could not give the Panthers anything.

“They are a very disciplined team, well coached. They can dig and we knew it but we just did not hit at the seams and make them move, we hit right at them,” he explained.

Gonzalez and his team are now focusing on the next playoff game.

“We will face the winner of Indian Springs vs Sandy Valley. That’s our first game and that’s all we are concentrating on. We will not overlook an opponent. If we get to play Alamo again, I believe my girls will be ready. I am very proud of them and I do believe in them,” he said.

Next, the Lady Muckers Varsity team (overall: 11-2, conference: 7-1) will play at Pahranagat Valley against the Thunderbirds of Indian Springs on Nov. 9.