After losing to the Farmington Scorpions 3-0 in a first meeting, the Durango High School volleyball team closed the gap in the rematch Thursday.
Durango won the first set, 25-16. Farmington, however, escaped with a 29-27 win in the second set and then took the third set, 25-21.
In the fourth set, DHS dominated, 25-10, to force a deciding game five. The final game was close, but Farmington pulled out a slim, 15-13 victory to take the set, and the match, 3-2.
Durango (0-3) will next play the Grand Junction Central Warriors on Sept. 10 to begin its league slate.
The Durango tennis team faced some stiff competition at Air Academy’s tournament over the weekend.
The team lost all four of its matches, but DHS head coach Todd Jolley said the Demons almost won two of them.
Against Liberty High School, Michael Shires and Nate Claassen won 6-2 and 7-6(2) at No. 3 doubles. Tanner Coddington and Jeb Holt won 6-3, 3-6 and 10-5 at No. 4 doubles. The team, however, lost at No. 2 doubles in a tiebreaker while Griffin Hall, Calan Barnhardt and Rowan Hall all lost close singles matches, each with at least one 6-4 set.
The coach also said the 5-2 loss to Coronado included two matches lost in tiebreakers.
DHS also lost to Pine Creek and Rock Canyon in the tournament.
“It was excellent experience playing large Front Range teams this early and makes us all the more prepared to face teams in our region on the Western Slope,” Jolley said.
The Devo Town Series, presented by Zia Taqueria and Ska Brewing, will feature four Wednesday evening races beginning this week with the Twin Butte XC race.
On Sept. 15, the Star Wars Enduro will take place, followed by the Anasazi Enduro Sept. 22 and the Factory Trails short-track cross-country race on Sept. 29.
Register and more information at https://durangodevo.com/townseries/
The Fort Lewis College Cycling team will host its annual Fall Blaze fundraiser races on Sept. 25.
In addition to the traditional 37-mile road ride, there is also a 75-mile road ride, 17 and 31-mile mountain bike races and 41 and 82-mile gravel rides planned for this year.
Registration and more information at https://www.durangofallblaze.com/.
