The Volleycats played a total of 11 games during their three matches last Saturday.
And in only one were they soundly defeated.
That being said, it's hard to believe that Ignacio actually finished 0-for-3 at the 2A-District 3 Tournament - bringing an unfortunate, unlucky end to the team's season.
The final blow came via a 24-26, 23-25, 22-25 loss to Telluride, coming after an initial 22-25, 24-26, 15-25 loss to event-hosting Dolores. Probably the weekend's wildest match was Ignacio's 17-25, 25-22, 30-28, 30-32, 14-16 loss to Ridgway.
Playing probably the finest volleyball of her young prep career, freshman Charlize Valdez paced IHS in the thriller with a 14-kill, 15-dig double-double. Senior setter Shoshone Thompson had 33 assists offensively, as well as seven kills, and also notched a double-double with 18 digs defensively.
Senior Avionne Gomez had 23 digs and eight kills against the Demons, while sophomore Makayla Howell logged 20 digs and nine kills. Forceful at the net, she also booked seven solo blocks and assisted on seven others for an amazing total of 14 - nearly giving her a triple-double. She even recorded five assists offensively for an outstanding all-around effort.
Senior Caitlyn Mulcahy (eight kills) posted five solo stuffs and three assisted, junior Misty Egger-Morris stopped six solo and aided on another, and Thompson even got in on the act with four block assists. And all that defense was beyond essential.
Denied the right to advance to regionals, Ignacio finished 9-14 overall in 2017.
But as you can see, it wasn't for lack of trying.
Gassed after defeating THS in a five-gamer prior to battling the 'Cats, Ridgway (15-7) then lost to DHS in the title match, 14-25, 15-25, 11-25, but will see action this Saturday at 2A-Region C. The Bears, now an awesome 21-1 overall this fall, will host Region G and welcome not only Telluride (15-8) but also Rangely (19-4), which posted a 3-1 match record at the District 5 Tournament.
Having noted a concern for player safety as the main reason for forfeiting their season-opener Sept. 1 at Lyons, Dolores Huerta Prep likely had similar hesitations when it came to agreeing to a last-minute game last Saturday versus Ignacio.
Added to the teams' respective schedules after IHS' initial regular-season finale went in the books as a forfeit win over Walsenburg John Mall, the Pueblo-based Scorpions ultimately did not make the trip out to Alamosa for the neutral-site action - giving the hard-luck Bobcats yet another uncontested victory.
Ignacio finished the bizarre season 4-5 overall, and a third-place 2-2 in the 1A Southern Peaks Conference. Outscored 172-8 in their three games prior to agreeing to face the 'Cats, Dolores Huerta finished 0-9 overall and 0-4 in the 1A Santa Fe League.
