During Montezuma-Cortez's 11 match losses in 2014, the Panthers proved a tough out by still managing to take nine games from their opponents.
And in addition to having five of their outings go the five-game distance, rookie Coach Andi Pickens' volleyball bunch managed to raise eyebrows in the Four Corners region by booking 13 victories overall, breaking an even 5-5 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League, and playing a non-league schedule including Monticello, Utah (ultimately UHSAA Class 1A State Tournament semifinalists), and Kayenta, Ariz., Monument Valley (which finished 30-2 and captured the AIA Division III State Championship).
Oh yes, and nearby CHSAA powerhouse Bayfield.
Graduation claimed not only most of the Wolverines' regulars, but many Cortez players as well, meaning fans' eyes might witness an interesting encounter when the two crews meet inside M-CHS' Ron Wright Memorial Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 to get the 2015 season underway.
BHS is coming off another Class 3A state tournament appearance and 23-4 overall record. Coach Terene Foutz is 44-10 after two seasons, and she has coached an 8-0 run through the Intermountain League. After Cortez, the team will then travel out to Monument for an expected four quick matches at the Lewis-Palmer Invitational on Sept. 5.
The early road work then continues with the always-anticipated trip to Piedra Vista in Farmington on Sept. 8 One of the few teams to pressure Monument Valley into a fifth game last fall, Ron Becker's Panthers started their 2014 with five-game wins at Bayfield and at 2A Blanding, Utah, but ultimately finished 20-4 after dropping Game #5 to Las Cruces Centennial in the NMAA Class 5A state championship.
On Sept. 12, the Wolverines will finally run out onto the BHS Gymnasium floor for a guaranteed battle of a home-opener when 4A Durango visits at 2:30 p.m. The Demons went 14-10 overall and 6-4 in the Southwest League under Colleen Keresey in '14, but lost both games with Bayfield.
After the smoke clears and dust settles, BHS will waste little time in hitting the highways again for road dates in New Mexico at 5A Farmington (Sept. 15) and 5A Aztec (Sept. 17). Both teams also ended near the .500 mark overall last year, with FHS (10-13) slightly under it and State Tournament-qualifying AHS (12-11) just over.
Piedra Vista then comes to town during Homecoming Week on Sept. 22, and Bayfield gets into league play on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Monte Vista (7-16, 0-8 IML in '14).
Other key matches on BHS' itinerary, prior to the regular season-ending return to Monument on Halloween for the Palmer Ridge Invite, include: Oct. 3 at Durango, Oct. 6 versus state tournament qualifiers Pagosa Springs (19-8, 6-2) in IML action, Oct. 20 at PSHS, and Oct. 27 versus Alamosa in IML play on Senior Night.
The Wolverines will first get a sneak peek at several of the aforementioned foes at next Saturday's 4 Corners Scrimmages, hosted by PSHS and head coach Connie O'Donnell.
