Maybe all Durango High School’s volleyball team needed to turn its season around was to return home.
After six weeks on the road to start the season, the Demons made their debut at Durango High School and beat 5A’s No. 11 team in Fruita Monument, 3-1, on Friday night for the signature win of the season so far.
The Demons never looked intimidated by Fruita’s height advantage and gaudy 13-3 record. Durango’s best players had a phenomenal night to lead Durango to victory through some close sets. Demons fans who hadn’t seen the team before Friday night would be surprised Durango started out 1-8 this season.
“We've just been on an emotional roller coaster and that's been what has hurt us ... and then you lose by a couple,” Durango head coach Kelley Rifilato said. “People are maturing and I watched a ton of film so I just knew what they were going to do ... I just asked each of them to trust and to do their job; don’t overplay. We made an adjustment defensively, which helped a lot ... Devyn (Edwards), of course, played fantastic.”
Durango improved to 6-12 overall and 3-3 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League while Fruita dropped to 13-4 overall and 6-2 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League.
Sophomore outside hitter Devyn Edwards led Durango with a season-high 23 kills. Edwards showed the potential she displayed during her freshman year. She came up with huge kills with her power and athleticism on Friday night, as well as some impressive digs to keep points alive.
Senior Hadyn Neiman also had a season-high 19 kills for Durango. She had impressive moments from the posts and from the middle to help lead the Durango offense. Senior setter Indie Shows had 37 assists in the win.
Durango stuck with Fruita early in Set 1, thanks to some nice kills by Edwards and Neiman at the posts. A powerful cross-court kill after a great Edwards dig led to Durango taking a 7-6 lead. The Demons extended their lead to 10-7 after two Fruita attack errors. Neiman had a lot of success on the left side with her power.
“We talk a lot about playing with confidence,” Rifilato said. “The other thing we always say is FBK, or first ball kill. So the minute they serve at you, you get a kill right away. Just put the ball away ... if you watch a high-level college match, that's what they're getting.”
The Wildcats quickly tied the game at 10 with an excellent block at the net. The Demons then went on a 4-0 run thanks to Shows’ strong serving. Fruita looked a little unsettled on the road as it had a few violations at the net, increasing Durango’s lead to 18-12.
Fruita really started attacking from its right size with some of its tallest and most athletic players. Rifilato called a timeout with her team up 21-17. The Wildcats had a few good blocks at the net to cut the lead. The Wildcats showed why they were 13-3 with a miraculous save at the net, which sent the ball perfectly in the corner, and a cross-court kill to tie the set at 24.
With the game tied, Edwards came through. She killed to put Durango up one and then elevated on the left post for a thunderous kill down the middle for the 27-25 Set 1 win.
“Her confidence just across the board (has improved),” Rifilato said about Edwards. “She’s always had all of this ... she plays like a wise, old woman and you forget that she is 15.”
Set 2 was close early on as Fruita was helping Durango with some attack errors. The Demons took an 8-7 lead after senior Mia Carozza had a diving, one-handed dig to keep the point alive and allow Neiman to finish with a kill.
Durango continued to hold the lead as Fruita struggled to contend with Edwards’ power. The Demons led 19-14 after a kill by sophomore Brie Finneseth before Fruita began to rally. The Wildcats had a size advantage at the net over Durango and started to use it on the right side to cut into the lead.
However, the Demons didn’t lose it. A serving error and some attack errors gave Durango a small cushion late. At 24-21, the Demons went to Edwards on the left side and she delivered, giving the Demons a 2-0 set lead.
Fruita took an early 8-3 lead in Set 3 after some early attack errors by the Demons. Rifilato called a timeout with Durango down 10-4. Rifilato said her team made too many mental errors defensively and it cost Durango.
Although the Demons battled back to take the lead later in the set, a nice tip shot by Fruita gave the Wildcats a 25-23 Set 3 win and cut Durango’s lead to 2-1.
Durango did a great job blocking to start Set 4, but Fruita still found gaps for an early 9-5 lead. The Demons responded as Edwards continued her phenomenal day, this time with some fantastic digs to keep some points alive for Durango. A Neiman kill tied the set at 12.
The Demons led 17-13 and Fruita had to call a timeout with the Durango fans on their feet. Fruita made some errors under pressure and Durango’s lead ballooned to six. The Wildcats then showed its talent with some impressive kills. But, it wasn’t the Wildcats’ day as two attacking errors ended the match for Fruita and gave Durango a big win with a 25-20 Set 4 success.
Durango stays at home to play Montrose on Saturday at 1 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
