A veteran team from Las Vegas Faith Lutheran appears headed to another Southern Nevada Class 3-A League volleyball championship.

Based on their comparatively easy 25-21, 25-18, 25-16 victory against homestanding Pahrump Valley Tuesday, the Lady Crusaders have the expertise, experience and enthusiasm to claim their third consecutive regular-season title, as well as place themselves into the favorites' role in the Southern regionals.

Coached by Amy Fisher, an assistant under Tim Homa the last few seasons, Faith Lutheran was missing two starters (setter Darien Metcalf and passer Morgan Maloney), but the Crusaders won their league opener and is 11-2 in all matches.

Pahrump Valley, still plagued by errors and inconsistent play, fell to 0-1, 12-9, with its next match tonight at home against Las Vegas Legacy, a team in its first season of competition. The best-of-three match begins at 5 p.m.

"Tuesday's game brought out some challenges that resulted in a lapse of team cohesiveness," said Richard Barker, the first-year coach of the Trojans. "Until passing errors are corrected, no person on this team should point an accusing finger."

The Trojans went into practice Wednesday, "to renew our efforts at controlling our passing," said Barker. "Serving continues to be a concern, but was somewhat improved (against Faith Lutheran).

"I know Faith was missing a couple of good players, and we struggled with us at full strength," said Barker. "Now we have the opportunity to begin some real growth, instead of going through the motions. I am anxious to see what evolves."

Barker is "optimistic" that the Lady Trojans have potential that "remains untapped.

"I hope we can bring some stronger skills to the court before the end of the season," he said.

Statistically, junior libero Brittney Lindgren had 10 assists, with sophomore middle hitter Kristi Daffer adding three blocks, five kills and seven digs. Senior outside hitter Angelica Villa had a block, two kills and 16 assists, with Michelle Dannenberger, a senior middle blocker, getting four blocks, eight kills and seven digs.

In Game One, Pahrump Valley led 5-3, but was outscored 12-6 to fall behind 15-9. Kills by Andrea Jolls, Katie Trollier and an unforced error helped Faith balloon its lead to 23-17. Villa served four consecutive points to reduce the Trojans' deficit to 24-21, but Faith gained the win when a ball blocked by PVHS fell out of bounds.

The Crusaders, with Emily Koch, Krista Hansen, and Jolls creating plays, overcame a 6-4 deficit in Game Two to pull away to a 16-8 lead. Pahrump Valley closed to 23-17, but the last two Faith points came on service errors.

Game Three was never out of Faith's control. The Crusaders, comfortable with the changes in their lineup caused by the absence of two starters. held leads of 3-0, 10-4, 18-6 and 23-12. Villa served back-to-back aces to close the gap to 24-16, but a kill went out of bounds to give Faith Lutheran the sweep.

The Trojans travel to Overton Moapa Valley Tuesday, to Mesquite Virgin Valley Friday, to Boulder City Oct. 10 and to Faith Lutheran Oct. 13 for their next league matches. They close the 3-A regular season at home against Virgin Valley Oct. 17, Moapa Valley Oct. 20, and Boulder City Oct. 26.