Volleyball: Beatty loses to Tonopah in 5

The Hornets played Tonopah and the team that wanted it more won.

Beatty volleyball lost to Tonopah on their home court on Friday 25-21, 25-21, 17-25, 25-13 and 15-6.

This left Hornets coach Steve Sullivan just scratching his head trying to figure it all out.

"We were too over-confident against Tonopah," Sullivan said. "We had handled them pretty easily before, and with the emotions of it being senior night, we let the game slip away."

The Hornets had just beaten the Muckers in three straight sets the week before and according to their coach didn't come to play.

"Tonopah showed up to play and we didn't," he said. "Whenever a team doesn't show up with their heart in it and their mind focused, they do deserve to lose."

Sullivan feels his team is the better team.

"We have the talent on this team but we have to be willing to bust our butts, maintain intensity, keep our minds clear, and to never settle," Sullivan said.

Sullivan's team went to Indian Springs (7-5 overall, 5-2 Division IV Southern) in hopes of a win. The coach felt the team needed a win to enter the playoffs with a better mindset.

"That is why I am looking forward to playing Indian Springs," the coach said. "They are a tough team and that's what we need right now. I am more concerned about another loss because of what it will do to us emotionally and mentally."

A loss will mean the Hornets could be the fifth seed team versus the fourth place team. Either way the team will go to the playoffs. (The top six teams go to the playoffs for Division IV).

If things remain the same, the Hornets could be playing Tonopah in the first round of the playoffs and because they lost to Muckers they would be playing at Tonopah.

The playoffs start on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m.

Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com. Find him on Twitter: @vernheepvt.