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Andrew hurt in Warriors’ sweep of Incline

Steve Yingling, Tribune sports editor

ZEPHYR COVE – If the Whittell High Warriors are going to win a seventh straight state volleyball championship, they may have to do it without the top Nevada 2A League player.

Whittell senior Lauren Andrew suffered an injury to her left knee Friday during the second game of a three-game sweep of Incline at the Nevada 2A Regional Tournament at Whittell High School.

Family members took Andrew to have her left knee examined following Whittell’s 25-18, 26-24 and 25-20 victory over the fourth-seeded Highlanders.



The victory ensured that Whittell will participate in next week’s state tournament in Henderson. Whittell was scheduled to play either Battle Mountain or Lovelock in the regional finals later in the day.

Andrew’s injury obviously impacted her teammates, who dedicated their efforts to her.



“We just tried to stay completely focused on the game, not the injury,” said Whittell senior Isabel Concha-Foley. “We all thought to play for Lauren.”

Andrew was injured when she came down awkwardly on her left leg after making a second straight kill to pull Whittell even at 23 late in game two.

Following an injury delay, Incline’s Mariah Joseph gave her team game point with a kill. But Incline, as it had for most of the match, struggled with unforced errors. A serving ace by Whittell’s Sara Gillespie and two mistakes by the Highlanders gave the Warriors a 26-24 victory and a 2-0 edge.

“Losing our Northern Nevada MVP wasn’t what we had in mind,” said Whittell coach Tony Fathergill. “The girls did a good job of getting us through that adversity.

“We have a team system, so we have to roll with the punches.”

After holding leads for the second half of game two, Incline was unable to sustain any momentum at the start of the final game. Concha-Foley gave the Warriors a quick 3-1 lead with two kills, and a strong serving run by Darby Reeder put Whittell ahead 19-14.

Incline fought back to with 21-18 on a put-away by sophomore Laurel Perry, but Concha-Foley delivered two more kills as the Warriors eliminated the Highlanders in three games.

“We’re excited about next year,” said Perry, whose team won four league matches and only loses two players to graduation. “We can all improve, and that’s what the game is all about.”


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