The Durango High School volleyball team narrowly fell to Grand Junction Central on Friday night in a five-set thriller in Grand Junction, as the Warriors won 3-2. The scores were 25-21, 25-22, 24-26, 22-25 and 15-12.
The Demons (1-6, 0-2 5A/4A Southwestern League) were led by senior middle blocker Taylor Wolf, who finished with 13 kills, while her fellow front line mates and outside hitters Lily Chick and Millie O’Ketter finished with 12 each. Paige Ammerman had 25 assists, and Emmy Romero had 22 assists. Sierra Martin had nine blocks for the Demons.
Head coach Colleen Vogt was pleased with her team’s efforts despite not getting some crucial calls in the final set.
“(We) played really well and grew up tonight as a team,” Vogt said. “We never quit fighting, and I’m so proud of that. We had some calls that did not go our way in the fifth set, but I’m so proud of how well the girls handled themselves and competed tonight.”
Durango will take on Grand Junction (5-7, 1-1 5A/4A Southwestern League) at 11 a.m. Saturday in Grand Junction.
The Durango High School tennis team fell in a doubleheader to Grand Junction on Friday afternoon at Durango High School with losses of 7-0 and 6-1. The only team that won on the day for the Demons was in the second match against the Tigers, when the No. 4 doubles team of Andy Rodriguez and Calan Barnhart won in a three-set thriller, 2-6, 6-4 and 10-6 in the third set tiebreaker.
The test against the Tigers was one of two home matches the Demons will host, and, despite the loss, head coach Alan Batiste said it’s good preparation for the upcoming regional.
“The boys played hard today,” Batiste said. “It was a hot day, and we moved through both matches relatively quickly, so it was a good challenge for us. Grand Junction is a really good tennis program, and we’re getting ready for the regional playoffs around the corner.”
The Demons (2-8, 1-3 4A Region 8) will play their final regular season match at 8:30 a.m. Saturday against Grand Junction Central at Durango High School. The Demons topped the Warriors both meetings this season with 4-3 wins each time.
Batiste said it will be an exciting end to the regular season.
“I really just want them to compete at a high level and to try new things that they haven’t done before,” Batiste said. “We’re starting to get into playoff mode, so I think the boys will be ready to go.”
bploen@durangoherald.com
