The Durango High School volleyball team squared off with Montrose with first place in the 4A/5A Southwestern League lead on the line Thursday at DHS.
Both teams entered the contest with one league loss, meaning the winner would get to stand alone atop the league standings as the conference season nears its conclusion.
“I told them, ‘you don’t want anyone else to control your destiny’,” said DHS head coach Kelley Rifilato. “I told them to worry about every point and move forward.”
DHS had a different lineup, again, versus the Red Hawks because of some injuries, but the Demons trusted each other and made some big plays when they needed to win the contest in four games, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21 and 25-21.
“It was definitely a team effort,” Rifilato said. “The best thing about our team is somebody always steps up, and it’s somebody different every time.”
With Eva Stewart serving, and Emma Burns and Hadyn Neiman joining forces on a pair of blocks, DHS jumped out to a 7-0 lead in Game 1. Montrose eventually ended the run with a dink on a second hit, but the Demons kept the pressure on MHS.
Nieman served an ace. Leah Wolf spiked a kill through Montrose’s blockers to give DHS a 13-3 lead. Neiman spiked a kill on the back line and then Stewart, the team’s setter, recorded a kill and later made a diving dig. Down the stretch, Wolf was blocked, but kept the ball alive and Burns finished the play with a kill. On the next play, however, Wolf spiked a ball to the floor to put DHS up 22-14.
“They were trying to stop Leah so we moved her around,” Rifilato said. “She has such great court awareness that she cut the ball at the last second.”
DHS eventually won the game, with Naomi Rowe serving, when Montrose spiked a ball out of bounds.
The Red Hawks jumped out to an 8-3 lead in Game 2. DHS rallied and tied the game at 14-14 with some strong serves from Brooklyn Messier. The teams were still knotted at 23-23, but Montrose finished on top when a Durango spike sailed just long.
Game 3 was also close. Back-to-back kills from Wolf and Sarah Somrak put Durango ahead, 5-2. Later in the set, Rowe served an ace, then Somrak served an ace. The Red Hawks battled back and tied the game, 14-14.
Messier, however, served six straight points to put Durango up, 20-15. Messier also made a diving dig in that stretch while Wolf killed three balls.
Somrak eventually recorded a kill to bring up game point and Neiman spiked the game winner.
“I’m super proud of Hadyn,” Rifilato said about the freshman.
Game 5 was tied at 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19 as the teams continued to battle.
A Burns kill, however, gave DHS a side out and Messier served well to give DHS a 23-19 lead. The Demons last three points came on kills from Somrak, Wolf and Stewart’s game winner.
Wolf finished with 14 kills, 32 digs and a few blocks. “She had a great all around game,” the coach said.
Neiman had 10 kills while Somrak added six.
Messier came up with 22 digs.
“Brooklyn was the unnoticed person, but she was in the right spot all of the time,” Rifilato said. “And Eva did a great job moving the ball around.”
The coach also said the team’s older players, “are fantastic leaders.”
With the win, DHS improves to 12-3 overall and 6-1 in the SWL. Montrose is now 5-9, 4-2.
The Demons also swept Pagosa Springs on Tuesday, with a different lineup, 25-20, 25-15 and 25-21. Somrak and Wolf both had eight kills in the win. Stewart and Burns each blocked three shots. Messier made 22 digs and Stewart had 22 assists.
The Demons will be back in action Saturday when they host Central Grand Junction (3-7, 1-5) for its final league game. The varsity contest is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
“I’m proud of these kids and the adversity they’ve dealt with,” Rifilato said.
