Volleyball: Tigers win Vegas Invite

The Douglas High volleyball team went 9-0 over the weekend to capture the tournament title at the 18th annual Las Vegas High School Invitational.

Douglas defeated rival Carson in the championship match 25-19, 26-24 and landed three players, Megan Mitchell, Jessica Waggoner and Mysta Townsell, on the all-tournament team. Mitchell was named the tournament's MVP.

Early in the final match the Senators were hitting big shots only to be dug every time by the two Townsell sisters, Mysta and Mia.

Mitchell mixed the Tiger attack effectively and Douglas pulled out to a big early lead.

The Senators, with their backs against the wall, raised the tempo behind Blaike King as King had an incredible 10 kills in the final two games. Danae Eckart had been a defensive wall for Carson throughout the tourney and she continued, effectively slowing the Tiger attack. Carson repeatedly closed the gap only to see Douglas edge ahead again as the Tiger's won the opener 25-19.

Carson jumped to an early lead in game two behind King's unremitting attack but Douglas fought back to tie it at 14 all. The battle was pitched, back and forth, until Carson pulled ahead at 23-22 reaching game point. Douglas tied it, Carson had game point at 24-23 but could not finish the Tigers off.

Douglas emerged victorious 26-24. Carson's Eckart, and King were also named to the all-tournament team.

Douglas ripped through its pool on Friday, beating Chaparral 25-12, 25-11, Cimarron-Memorial 25-9, 25-10 and Chatsworth, Calif., 25-15, 25-23.

Advancing to the championship pool, Douglas beat Sylmar, Calif., 25-9, 25-10, Bountiful, Utah 25-13, 22-25, 15-6 and Bishop Gorman 17-25, 25-21, 15-7.

After defeating Palo Verde in the quarterfinals 25-18, 25-22, Douglas faced Skyline, Utah in the semifinals.

Taryn Williams, Jourdan Burke, and Shannon Dugan all stepped up as Tiger powerhouse Jessica Waggoner was playing through pain from a shoulder strain. Waggoner earlier had been dishing out the pain to the Tiger's opponents for most of the tournament. The Tigers dominated Skyline 25-14, 25-19 and advanced to the finals against Carson.