Cougars pull off stunner against Cowboys

Leah Robinson

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 10:01 a.m.

The Coronado Cougars emerged victorious in a volleyball slugfest Tuesday night, beating Chaparral in a five-game match in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals.

The Cougars upset the Cowboys, 15-17, 15-6, 13-15, 15-7, 15-7 in a match that lasted nearly three hours. Coronado coach Jay Renneker was not satisfied with the way his team achieved the tournament victory, despite a marked improvement from its 2001 showing.

"(Chaparral) played the best game of their life. We played the worst ever. We won ugly," Renneker said.

The decisive fifth game was up for grabs early with a 5-5 tie. After that, the Cougars (SE-3) allowed the Cowboys (NE-2) just two more points in running to the win.

For Coronado, Jenna Newman tallied 26 kills and four blocks and Lauren Bucherie added 15 kills and four blocks.

Coronado and Chaparral took the first game to a 15-point tie before the Cowboys capitalized on Coronado mistakes, winning 17-15.

Game two was redemption for the Cougars, who came from behind early to win a decisive victory. Game three went back to the Cowboys who were winning handily 10-3, but squeaked by to win, 15-13.

The fourth game was a horse race early with a seven-all tie, but the Cougars quickly capitalized on some defensive Cowboy mistakes to pull out a 15-7 win.

Chaparral notables were Erin Mika with eight kills and six blocks, Courtney Sobrero with nine kills and seven digs, Brittany Robinson with 15 digs and Rebekah Wood with nine kills and nine digs.

The Cougars will next face Green Valley (SE-1), last year's state champs, on Thursday in semifinal action. Green Valley easily trounced Eldorado (NE-4), 15-4, 15-5, 15-11. Jenn Todd totaled 14 kills with five aces, Carolyn Forbush had eight kills and three aces, Lindsey Schiess had five kills and Kelsi Thoman added 22 assists for the Gators.

In other quarterfinal action, Las Vegas (NE-1) defeated Foothill (SE-4) 14-16, 13-15, 15-12, 15-9, 15-11; and Silverado (SE-2) defeated Valley (NE-3) 15-4, 15-1, 15-9. Las Vegas and Silverado will meet in the other Sunrise semifinal Thursday at Chaparral.

The two semifinal winners will qualify for next week's 4A state tournament in Reno. The Sunset Region, which opens quarterfinal play today at Chaparral, will send three teams to the state playoffs.