By James Hernadnez 

After back to back weekends on the road, Southern Nevada returned home to host an assortment of quality junior college volleyball programs in the annual 2018 Lady Coyote Volleyball Classic presented by the Eastside Cannery hotel and casino.

The Victor Valley College Rams were the opening opponent for the Lady Coyotes and they wasted little time establishing their dominance in the match. CSN came out in the opening set looking a lot quicker and more athletic around the net and it translated to points early and often as they cruised to a 25-4 opening set victory. Sets two and three were more competitive overall, however the end result was a pair of 25-18 triumphs by the Lady Coyotes en route to a 3 sets to zero match victory. Abbey Archambault paced Southern Nevada in kills with ten ,while Lexi Riggs (7 digs) and Logan DeLong (15 assists) led the team in digs and assists.

Match two of the tournament was a step-up in competition for CSN as they prepared to battle the Arizona Western College Lady Matadors. AWC was dominant around the net in the opening set, taking advantage of every opportunity presented to them as they claimed the first two sets of the match by identical 11-25 scores. Despite trailing by two sets the Lady Coyotes found the energy and effort to claim set three 25-23 and cut the Mats match lead in half. Southern Nevada came out strong in set four of the match, but was unable to get over the hump and eventually lost the set 16-25. Arizona Western claimed the match (11-25, 11-25, 25-23 and 16-25) to drop the Lady Coyotes to 5-8 on the season. Match standouts for CSN included Abbey Archambault and Rachel Chambers (8 kills each) as well as Kaylee Wilcox (14 assists) and Jackie Yapching (14 digs).

Day two and match three for CSN in the 2018 Lady Coyote Volleyball Classic pitted the host Coyotes against another group of Coyotes from Chandler Gilbert Community College in Arizona. With a 9 a.m. start time it wouldn't have been shocking to see a bit of a sluggish start from either side, however both clubs were ready to play from the opening whistle. CGCC was competitive in the opening set, but it wasn't enough as CSN grabbed control of the match with a 25-16 victory in set one. Set two was a back and forth affair until Southern Nevada seized the momentum and rode it all the way to a 25-21 second set victory. Chandler-Gilbert outlasted the Lady Coyotes in set three 23-25 to force a fourth set in the match. Southern Nevada set the tone in set four and cruised to a 25-17 victory to claim the match three sets to one. Lexi Riggs, Abbey Archambault and Rachel Chambers led the team with 10 kills apiece and Kaylee Wilcox did the rest with a team high 24 assists and 12 digs.

The final matchup of the weekend for CSN presented the greatest challenge as the 10^th ranked Seward County Saints stared across the net at a young, relatively untested group of Lady Coyotes. Despite the Saints best effort, they were unable to intimidate Southern Nevada as they battled point for point with the Saints before dropping a razor-thin opening set of the match 22-25. Set two saw a veteran Saints team use its height to its advantage, especially around the net as they dispatched the Lady Coyotes in set two 16-25. Facing an uphill climb in set three, CSN showed the resolve and heart of a champion, scrapping and clawing for every point in a close 22-25 defeat in set three that gave Seward County a straight sets match victory. Match standouts for CSN included Lexi Riggs (8 kills, 8 digs) Marta Ellsworth (7 kills) and Kaylee Wilcox (16 assists). It's hard to be encouraged by a loss, but Coach Vergnaud and his staff had to be both proud and encouraged by the fight his young team showed versus one of the top volleyball programs in the country.

Fans your Lady Coyotes will host West Coast Baptist College on Thursday September 20^th followed by a quick road trip to Ephraim, Utah where they open up 2018 SWAC play.

For match times, ticketing options and live updates all weekend log onto www.csncoyotes.com or follow us on Facebook CSNCoyotes and Twitter @CSN_Vball.