Extra energized playing in front of their home crowd, the Durango High School volleyball team continually played from behind Saturday. But when the Demons settled in and started communicating, head coach Kelley Rifilato saw her Demons rise.
After falling behind 2-1 through three sets, Durango stormed from behind in the fourth set to win 25-22 and force a decisive fifth set against Class 4A seventh-ranked Montrose.
Tied 11-11 in the fifth, Mason Rowland would deliver one of her team-high 21 kills to put Durango in front. Montrose would then struggle to receive a serve from Durango’s Lainey Voss before another Rowland kill gave the Demons a 14-11 lead.
Montrose would battle back to within 14-13 after Rowland had a shot go long and another blocked, but her older sister, Kyle, would deliver the match-winning kill to give the Demons a 3-2 victory.
“It was so fun to be on our home court, and it felt so good to be here with the team and take it in five,” said DHS senior Paige Ammerman. “We definitely knew Montrose was going to bring it, and we came out hard and pulled through. Having all of our parents here is amazing, and I am thankful they are allowing that so they could be here with us.”
Durango (3-0, 3-0 5A/4A Southwestern League) trailed early in the first set of the day but rallied back to tie it at 21-21 before going on to take the set 25-22.
Montrose (3-1, 1-1 SWL) would answer in the second with a 26-24 victory, as Durango errors piled up. More Demon errors were the story in the third set, which Montrose would claim 25-20.
“I think the girls were a bit nervous playing at home,” Rifilato said. “It was a little chaotic those first three sets and the beginning of the fourth. But somehow, the girls found a way to get in a groove and find a lead and keep a lead. The resiliency showed being able to battle back, make some adjustments and be more aggressive. I think we were doing too many shots, too much trying to place balls. In the end, it was just swing away, just be aggressive. I think that pulled us through the match.”
It was in the fourth set that Durango came to life. A big block from Mason Rowland followed by her cross-court kill had the Demons ahead 18-15 and playing with a lead for seemingly the first time all day.
“We needed the energy,” Rowland said. We knew we needed to take care of the ball and finish when we got a pass.”
Ammerman finished with 14 kills for DHS, while Kyle Rowland and Leah Wolf each had seven kills. Ammerman also led DHS in assists with plenty going to Mason Rowland. DHS tallied 22 team blocks and seven solo, led by Mason Rowland’s four.
Rifilato said the team adjusted their block during the match to give Montrose problems.
“Durango is a big team, and I think we were challenged at the net with their blocking,” Montrose head coach Shane Forrest said. “They’re a good defensive team. I thought our team adjusted well and really fought. We’re not very big, but we’re scrappy, fighters, competitive and just grind it out. We saw that today.”
Leah Wesley led DHS with 43 digs, while Voss finished with 18 and Mason Rowland and Ammerman each had 13.
“We are lucky we have so many fast players defensively,” Rifilato said. “Lainey Voss, I can’t say enough about that kid. When I needed her, she stepped up. She gives us a different look all over the floor and does a bit of everything.”
Durango returned to the court Tuesday on the road at Fruita Monument and secured another five-set victory (25-20, 25-17, 18-25, 27-29, 15-11).
Wolf led DHS with 14 kills and four blocks, while Kyle Rowland had eight kills, 24 digs and two aces. Wesley recorded 39 digs, while Ammerman had 25 assists and five aces.
DHS will host Grand Junction at 6 p.m. Friday.
“This league is going to be tough,” Forrest said. “Durango, Fruita and Montrose I think are going to be battling for the league title all year, and it’s going to be competitive.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
