Basketball player dominates in volleyball

By Christopher Drexel

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 | midnight

Dannielle Diamant was one of the most highly recruited basketball players in the nation before committing to play at Northwestern this summer.

But the Bishop Gorman senior may be just as dominant on the volleyball court, Gaels volleyball coach Ed Van Meetren said.

Diamant, a four-year varsity volleyball player, is a key reason Gorman is off to a 15-7 record, including 5-0 in the Southwest Division.

"Not many teams can match her size," Van Meetren said of the 6-foot, 4-inch Diamant. "She could be as good a volleyball player as she is in basketball if not better if that would have been her primary sport. She could easily play volleyball at the next level if she put her time in."

Diamant, the granddaughter of former UNLV men's basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, has been a leader for a volleyball team that has three sophomores in its starting lineup, including setter Liz Manthei and outside hitters Brooke McKenna and Kylie Shaw. Libero Liz Lisowski is the only other senior in the lineup.

"We win at the net," Van Meetren said. "We're a very good blocking team because we're bigger than most other teams."

Van Meetren said the team will have to further develop chemistry if it is to improve on its opening round playoff loss to Palo Verde a year ago.

Centennial golf rebuilds

It's not easy losing an individual state champion to graduation. Just ask Centennial girls golf coach Charlie Cerrone.

The Bulldogs are without the services of Alex Borcherts, now a freshman golfer at UNR who captured the individual 4A state title a year ago. They also graduated their No. 2 golfer from last season, Elizabeth Burrus, who finished fifth at state. Both golfers regularly shot in the 70s.

Without them, Centennial has averaged 415 — five golfers' scores over 18 holes — through three divisional matches. The Bulldogs have one second-place finish and two third-place finishes.

To qualify for the postseason, a team must average 397 if it does not win its division.

"We'd have to shoot in the 380 area in our remaining matches to bring our average down to that," Cerrone said. "It's possible but it will be a difficult task."

The Bulldogs have been led by seniors Alanna McLaughlin and Sara Farr, who each average about a 91.

Juniors Ronalli Enriquez and Lauren Loupe average about 100, and freshman Madison McDonough rounds out rounds out the lineup, averaging about 110.

"We're playing OK. We're about where I thought we'd be," Cerrone said. "They are getting better, but we have a lot of inexperienced girls this year."

Meadows volleyball undefeated in league

The Meadows may not have the biggest or strongest girls volleyball team in the area. But what the Mustangs may lack in hitting, they make up for in scrappy defense, coach Stephanie Heller said.

The Meadows have won its first four 2A Southern League matches.

"We're digging about 14 balls a game, which is pretty good," Heller said. "What we're trying to deal with right now is strengthening our defense. Our hitting percentage is pretty low. We have to keep improving in practice."

The Meadows upset 3A Boulder City High on Sept. 23, winning all three games by two points.

"(Boulder City) had a better attack than us and they hit a lot harder, but we just out-dug them and let them make the mistakes," Heller said.

The Mustangs' defensive effort has been led by junior Krystina Fong, who Heller thinks is one of the best liberos in the Southern Nevada. She had 44 digs against Boulder City.

Senior Kim McLaughlin, a three-year varsity starter, has been a leader from her setter position. And junior Lindsie Kutcher has been the team's best offensive threat with a team-leading .350 hitting percentage.

Christopher Drexel can be reached at 990-8929 or christopher.drexel@hbcpub.com.