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Bayfield volleyball steps into Class 3A Districts
Herald Sports Writer
The Bayfield High School volleyball team will take step No. 3 in a record-setting season Saturday.
I love that we're at home. We have such good fans, such good support, and the kids feed on that.
- Kelley Rifilato, BHS volleyball coach
The Wolverines, unbeaten at 18-0, took step No. 1 with a perfect record in the Intermountain League season.
Then, they took step No. 2 with a sweep at the annual IML Tournament last weekend in Monte Vista.
The third step in the staircase of a season will happen Saturday when the Wolverines host the Class 3A District 7 Tournament at Bayfield High School.
The four-team field for the District Tournament includes Bayfield and three teams from the Tri-Peaks League, including state-ranked St. Mary's of Colorado Springs (19-1), state-ranked Lamar (15-4) and Trinidad (6-12).
The four teams will be chasing two berths in the Class 3A Regionals next weekend.
The round-robin schedule will open at 8 a.m. Saturday with matches continuing throughout the afternoon.
"I love that we're at home," BHS head coach Kelley Rifilato said. "We have such good fans, such good support, and the kids feed on that." But, Rifilato said, the field for the District Tournament is loaded with top 3A volleyball teams.
"St. Mary's is going to be a really good team," Rifilato said. "And Lamar is very good. Both teams are very athletic. Like us, they're not huge in size, but they are very good." St. Mary's, the No. 2 seed for the District Tournament, will kick off Saturday's action with an 8 a.m. match against league rival Lamar, the No. 3 seed.
Bayfield, the No. 1 seed, will take on Trinidad in the second match (scheduled tentatively for 9:30 a.m.). The matches will follow in succession with the next match starting 15 minutes after the conclusion of the preceding matches.
The schedule is dependent on previous match outcomes.
St. Mary's will take on Trinidad in the second round about 11 a.m.
Bayfield will play Lamar in a key match at 12:30 p.m.
In the final round, Lamar and Trinidad will play at 2 p.m.
Bayfield will play St. Mary's at 3:30 p.m. (approximately) in the final match of the day.
"We play Trinidad first, and we have to take care of business," said Rifilato, adding that the tiebreakers always are critical in a four-team, round-robin tournament.
She said the percentage of sets won is a key tiebreaker, increasing the significance of the opening match against Trinidad.
"Lamar played Pagosa (Springs) two weeks ago (in the Fowler Tournament)," Rifilato said. "Pagosa said Lamar is very scrappy. They find a way to get the ball up." Lamar will extend points throughout the match with tenacious, hustling defense, the BHS coach said.
Lamar finished second to St. Mary's in the Tri-Peaks East. Lamar's only losses this year came against St. Mary's (twice), Classical Academy of Colorado Springs (15-4 and ranked among the state's top 10) and unbeaten 2A powerhouse Fowler (20-0).
St. Mary's only loss of the season came last week to Colorado Springs Christian, the acknowledged No. 1 team in 3A and one of the top teams in the state regardless of classification.
"St. Mary's was here last year," Rifilato said. "Melissa Sweeney does a great job coaching those girls. They are very consistent ... stable.
"I think Lamar, St. Mary's and Bayfield are similar," she said. "Tough serving ... we don't have towering size. And we all have a lot of wins." In fact, there are only five losses among the top three seeds for the District Tournament.
"That's pretty scary," Rifilato said.
She said the Wolverines likely will send different lineup looks onto the floor Saturday, partly because of a right arm injury suffered last weekend by Bayfield sophomore Katherine Rifilato.
Katherine Rifilato will play in the District Tournament, but she might be used as a setter-blocker instead of a hitter-blocker.
Her final playing status will be determined today.
"She's got a strained tendon in her arm," coach Rifilato said. "She's been playing some lefty, and her blocking is fine." Coach Rifilato said Katherine Rifilato was a natural lefty who plays golf left-handed and hits a softball left-handed. She's been a righty hitter and server on the volleyball team.
But that might change.
If she gets medical clearance however, Katherine Rifilato will be back at her power-hitting position on the outside of Bayfield's front row. And the state's leader in ace serves might have an opportunity to resurrect her devastating jump serve.
Her injury forced the Wolverines to make extensive lineup adjustments last weekend.
And, coach Rifilato said, the players responded.
"Thank god I have so many versatile kids," she said. "I flipped four kids last weekend (into different positions). And my kids didn't freak out." Rather, she said, the Wolverines stepped up and gladly accepted their new responsibilities and new roles.
"I have to hand it to the kids. They are out there giving their best," coach Rifilato said.
Gabriella Rifilato, the BHS senior setter and reigning player of the year in the IML, moved out to a hitting position last weekend after her sister's injury.
Gabriella likely will see duty in a variety of spots, the BHS coach said. The rest of the Wolverines, including Jacey Sirios, Laurel McCormick, Mikayla Moss, Sierra Aten, Jennifer Phelps, Caitlin Simbeck, Shelby Williamson and Brianna Cox, will be ready for duty in a mixture of 6-1 and 5-2 offensive formations.
Coach Rifilato also brought up Breetta Moe, Candace Shaw and Kennedy Clark from the Wolverines' unbeaten junior varsity team.
"And all of them can play, too," coach Rifilato said. "Plus, I think they gained confidence playing with the (unbeaten) JV team." She said the Wolverines know it will take a team effort to advance to the 3A Regionals, step No. 4, with a chance to take step No. 5 to the state championships in Denver.
"I think the flexibility of my team is our strength right now," coach Rifilato said.
dstrode@durangoherald.com
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