Strength on strength for volleyball title

Tim Mullin

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

When Las Vegas High and Bonanza square off at 6:30 p.m. today in the Coronado High School gymnasium, it will be a classic example of power against power.

Both squads rely on their high-powered front lines to dominate the net and both are loaded with heavy hitters.

The difference in the game will come down to the backcourts and defense.

"The key is probably going to be good defense," Bonanza's Dan Reynolds said. "Stay up and knock it down and stay together as a team."

Whichever team can move quicker and get the digs will absorb its opponent's power punch and earn the right to be this year's 4A state champion.

"They have some great players and we know they will come at us swinging," Las Vegas coach Sue Thurman said. "We are going to do our best to stay calm under certain situations because we know they are going to have their big hits and we accept it. Every hit is a point and we are going to work to keep the ball up as much as we can."

For Vegas, it will be the duo of Craig Pickett and Brandon Matthewson leading the way up front. The two combined for 31 kills en route to their 18-25, 22-25, 25-18, 26-25, 15-7 victory of Palo Verde in last night's semifinal game.

The Wildcats started slow with an errant passing game and quickly dropped the first two games of the match.

But after a few inspirational words from coach Thurman, Vegas came together to win the next three games to knock Palo Verde out of the tournament.

"I just asked them if they could play better than what they where doing," Thurman said. "I asked them, 'Is that all you guys got?' And they said no, and I'm like, 'Then let's go out there and prove it to everybody.' "

The fourth game proved to be critical. Throughout the game, Vegas took one and two point leads, but a kill or two from Palo Verde sophomore Joe Kauliakamoa would bring the score even again.

Eventually, the game boiled down to one critical error by Kauliakamoa, who over-hit a potential kill to give Vegas a 25-24 lead. On the next play, Palo Verde was penalized for playing out of rotation, giving Vegas the game.

With all the momentum on their side, the Wildcats cruised to an easy victory in game five, behind the arms of Pickett and Juan Carlos Gomez, who dominated up front for a combined six kills in the game.

"Our boys fought with heart and stepped up at the end when they needed to," Thurman said.

Opposite the Wildcats tonight will be the big three of Bonanza -- Cameron Hyer, Eric Ringer and Scott Rice.

The three range from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-4 and helped Bonanza cruise to an easy 25-16, 25-20, 25-20 victory.

Cameron Hyer and Dan Reynolds led the Bengals with a combined 13 kills and 15 blocks.

Bonzana's frontcourt was just too much for the Skyhawks. Hyer, Ringer and Rice piled on the blocks and left Silverado's attack ineffective.

"They are just monsters at the net," Bonanza coach Bob Bertolani said. "They really are[$]big arms, lengthy arms, and when they are on it makes it really hard to get through our blocks."

Earlier this season Vegas swept Bonanza 3-0 but both sides know more is at stake tonight.

"That was a month ago," Thurman said. "That was in the past, all that really matters is what happens tomorrow. Our game plan is to stick to our game plan, which is to pass well, serve well, play tough defense ... and move the ball around well on offense."

As for Bonanza, coach Bertolani summed it up in a succinct phrase - "We have to play mistake-free."

With the state championship on the line, both teams understand they need to stick with what got them there and play their game.

"We just have to go in there and play our game," Pickett said.