Off and running, Bayfield volleyball managed to overcome a shaky second game during Tuesday night's season-opener to defeat 4A Montezuma-Cortez in four (25-19, 15-25, 25-18, 25-21).

"It's starting to come together," said Head Coach Terene Foutz. "We could be fun to watch this year!"

To most fans around the region that usually goes without saying, but with a retooled roster, and very rough road ahead on the schedule, she could be saying a lot.

Junior standout Maddi Foutz came up with a reported 10 digs, but also had five kills in six attempts with no hitting errors to help the seventh-ranked Wolverines' cause on the road. And though she hadn't reviewed and finalized match statistics yet as of Wednesday afternoon, Terene Foutz noted the work of young Kylee McCoy.

"Kylee had a breakout performance," she stated of the sophomore, expected to be one of a few filling the vacancy left by now-Colorado State University middle Kirstie Hillyer. "Didn't look like a sophomore out there!"

She was credited with seven kills. Junior Emily Bauer landed six, and sophomores Jade Pascale and Ashley Mottin-making her varsity debut-each put down five.

Up next BHS will take on the task of a long haul out to Monument for tomorrow's Lewis-Palmer Invitational, hosted by the preseason #1 unit in Class 4A. As of press time, one known opponent for Bayfield will be 4A's #4-ranked Pueblo West Cyclones-meaning Bayfield (1-0 overall) will probably be quite battle-hardened by the time they return and travel to Farmington on Sept. 8 to face 5A Piedra Vista.

"We have the most awesome preseason ever," Coach Foutz said. "It will set the stage for us. If that type of preseason doesn't prepare us for the IML (3A Intermountain League), then nothing will."