MARK WAITE / PVT Naomi Cruz, 24, of Beatty, makes a play in a Lady Hornets match at the Pahrump Valley Invitational Volleyball tournament Friday. Beatty finished 2-6 in the two-day tournament, despite leading in six of the matches. Advertisement

Let's talk about the strange adventures of the Beatty High School girls' volleyball team in the Pahrump Valley Invitational tournament last weekend.

On Friday, the Nevada Class A Central Division Lady Hornets:

Defeated Las Vegas Calvary Chapel in their first game in Pool B play, but the Lions rallied for 25-13, 15-9 wins to claim the victory.

Stopped Class 4-A Las Vegas Vo-Tech 25-21, but fell to 0-2 when the Roadrunners won the next two games, 26-24, 15-12.

Interrupted that losing streak by dominating 4-A Las Vegas Arbor View 25-16, 25-22.

Lost 25-10, 25-10 to defending state Class A champion Pahranagat Valley Alamo. Losing to Alamo is nothing new for every 1-A team in Nevada for almost a decade, so that was the least unique happening for the Beatty girls.

Lost 25-10, 25-10, to burgeoning 4-A power Las Vegas Shadow Ridge, which went on to win the Gold Division title.

In the Maroon Division bracket opener, the Hornets lost 26-24, 25-20 to Class 2-A Las Vegas The Meadows, a program that was a dominating force in volleyball just a couple years back.

Beatty then stifled Las Vegas Trinity Christian 25-13, 25-15 and appeared on doing some more damage when they defeated Vo-Tech 25-14 in the first game of the consolation semifinals. But the Roadrunners bounced back again, winning 25-18, 15-9.

So, Beatty's girls won the first game in six of their eight matches, but finished only 2-6 as their overall record moved to 4-6.

For coach Mike Duszynski, it was both a rewarding and frustrating experience.

"I thought we were able to play with everyone; we have the talent to do it," said the 11-year veteran coach. "But something's up ... I can't figure it out how we could start so well ... Maybe it was a matter of focus ... or maybe it was a dip in adrenalin.

"The girls seemed so happy to win a first game, but (in four losing matches), we didn't serve as well, we didn't pass as well, and we seemed to be chasing rather than hitting," said Duszynski. "But because of the way they played, I am hopeful.

"For the first time in a while, we are able to block at the net and there are other things we do well, giving us something to build on," said the coach. "And we did most of what we accomplished with four sophomores, two freshmen and two juniors on the floor. The only down side is we may have lost Jennifer Porte for an indefinite period with an ankle injury."

The juniors include Chriscel Rankin and Karli Rust, while the sophomore contingent has Naomi Cruz, Nicole Stucker, Autumn Spicer, Idhaly Flores and Anna Gonzalez. The freshmen are Chelsea Cathcart, Jessica Cummings, Heather Dunserville, Kaci Schroeder, Ariel Spicer, Crystal Williams, Chambria Dawson, Raycel Gaitan, Nicole VanAlstine and Alejandra Gonzalez.

The Hornets had five seniors on their preseason roster, including Lorraine True, Charley Underwood, Amber White, Sheeva Morgan and Daniella Moreno.

The Hornets go back on the road Saturday, playing in a four-team round robin at Pyramid Lake. Gerlach and Sparks Legacy Christian are in the tournament with the host Lakers and the Hornets.