In a rival’s rowdy gymnasium, on Bayfield’s “whiteout” night, Piedra Vista freshman Courtney Moore got a taste of how intense high school volleyball can be, and she didn’t budge.
Moore led the Panthers (7-2) with eight kills and 14 blocks in an impressive 25-12, 25-18, 28-26 win at Bayfield (4-6) and came through at the biggest moment for her team.
Up two games to none in a third set that saw Bayfield finally finding its rhythm, Moore shouldered the load. The Wolverines put the pressure on the Panthers and had three shots at set point. Each time, Moore stood tall at the net and hammered away the hopes of Bayfield into the floor.
“It’s pretty stressful, especially when you have such a loud gym,” Moore said. “This is my first experience playing high school volleyball, so it can be kind of scary but it’s all about mental toughness and knowing what you need to do to finish. I’m learning a lot.”
If any of the Piedra Vista players were scared, they didn’t show it. The Panthers, who swept the Wolverines 3-0 in Farmington already this season, set the tone early.
In the face of a very loud and rowdy Bayfield crowd, Piedra Vista won the first six points behind the strong serve of junior Kamryn Gordon. Later in the game, they sustained another six-point run and cruised to a 25-12 win.
Bayfield came out in Game 2 with much more intensity. The Wolverines took the first four points and it looked like they might turn the tables. The Panthers, however, wouldn’t allow it.
Down 11-9, Piedra Vista won the next nine of 10 points and took the game 25-18.
“I’m really proud of the way we fought tonight,” said Piedra Vista head coach Ron Becker. “Every time it got tough, we responded the way good teams should respond.”
A much looser Wolverine squad looked like a different team down the stretch. Sophomore Jade Pascale and junior Maddi Foutz played a strong third game and gave the Panthers all they could handle.
When tested, Piedra Vista responded.
Down 24-23, facing game point, Moore tied it with a spike at the net. Down 25-24 and 26-25, she did the same, and the Panthers closed the third out 28-26 moments later.
Although it was another sweep at the hands of Piedra Vista, a young Bayfield team improved as the night went on.
“We definitely need to work on our first-set mentality,” said Pascale, daughter of Casey and Corinne Pascale. “We went after them in the third game, and we were finding holes.”
Foutz and Pascale led the Wolverines with six kills. Foutz also had four aces and 10 digs. Bebe Jaquez led Piedra Vista with nine kills, and Gordon had 22 assists.
“Most of my starters are sophomores, and we’re starting to understand when we’re getting it right,” said Bayfield head coach Terene Foutz. “It’s a big learning process for us this season; we’re a little tepid, but as I see some things coming together, it’s really getting fun to watch.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
