The Bayfield High School volleyball team took both matches from Saturday’s 3A Intermountain League triangular. The Wolverines swept Montezuma-Cortez in three sets and exacted revenge on Centauri in four sets.
“We saw the entire team respond soundly when pushed today,” said BHS head coach Terene Foutz. “Today was the culmination of hard work this week amidst a distracting homecoming frenzy. (I’m) super proud of our team focus beating Centauri and Cortez on the road. Today was a great day where the team realized what they were working for. (They’re) happily exhausted kids.”
In the first match against Cortez, Bayfield (12-4, 7-2 3A IML) won 25-22, 25-23 and 25-13 to sweep the regular season series against the Panthers (6-5, 1-5 IML).
Mavis Edwards recorded another double-double, as she had 10 kills and 10 digs. Lana McKee led the Wolverines with 19 digs, and Emily Nelson added 11. The Wolverines recorded seven team blocks in the win.
In the second match against Centauri (8-6. 5-2, IML), BHS topped the Falcons in four sets, 25-18, 26-24, 18-25 and 25-22. The win came one week after the Falcons edged Bayfield in La Jara in another four-set match.
Melissa Roberts had a breakout match for the Wolverines, as she slammed home 15 kills. Nelson recorded her first-career double-double with 14 digs and 10 kills. Meghan Youngblood paced the Wolverines with 37 assists, while Lana McKee led BHS with 21 digs. The Wolverines were a force at the net, as they recorded nine team blocks.
Foutz said Roberts and Nelson have been key pieces for the Wolverines this season.
“(Roberts) has been putting in extra work after practice to technically develop, and she’s beginning to realize her hard work,” Foutz said. “She is developing a strong net game heading into the final rounds. (Nelson) has been an unsung hero for BHS all season. Incredibly consistent, a quiet leader who values excellence. Watching her play, the average fan would not likely guess that she is actually a sophomore. Steadfast and fundamentally sound, Emily is a reliable constant on court.”
The Wolverines will have a week to prepare for a rematch against first-place Alamosa (17-2, 6-0 IML) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bayfield High School.
The Durango High School volleyball team swept a weekend series in Grand Junction, as the Demons topped Grand Junction Central on Friday night and battled to a four-set victory over Grand Junction on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Demons (10-5, 4-1 5A/4A Southwestern League) recovered after faltering in the second set and rebounded well to win 25-21, 22-25, 26-24 and 25-17.
DHS was led by the front row, as four players had at least five kills, while Kyle Rowland and Millie O’Ketter recorded 10 a piece. Paige Ammerman dished out 21 assists and Sydney Summers recorded six blocks in the win. DHS also had a strong day on defense, as Rowland and O’Ketter combined for 51 digs, while Leah Wesley added 14 digs of her own.
Durango also had a strong night Friday, as the Demons topped the Warriors 25-13, 25-12 and 25-15.
Rowland recorded a team-high 10 kills, while Ammerman served up five aces. Emmy Romero and Ammerman each had 11 assists.
“(We) played very consistent and well tonight,” said DHS head coach Colleen Vogt. “Great serving and passing, and we did a great job of siding out, as well.”
Durango will host the Tigers (6-12, 1-4 SWL) at 5:30 p.m. Friday for a homecoming match.
The Ignacio High School volleyball team fell at Class 2A No. 10 Telluride (15-3, 6-1 SJBL) Saturday, as the Miners won in straight sets.
Statistics were not available.
The Bobcats (8-7, 4-5 2A/1A San Juan Basin League) will play Dolores (12-3, 8-0 SJBL) next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Dolores High School.
Soccer
SoccerThe Bayfield High School boys soccer team got blanked by Ridgway on Saturday afternoon in league action, as the Wolverines fell 8-0 to the Demons.
Ridgway (7-1-3, 1-1-1 3A Intermountain League) scored four goals in each half in the win and were led by senior forward Robert Beserra, who scored five times. Cooper Ahern, Ruben Kornbluh and Cory Thomson also scored.
BHS (0-12, 0-4 IML) will host Montezuma-Cortez (1-10, 1-2 IML) at 7 p.m. Monday inside Wolverine Country Stadium.
The Durango High School boys soccer team fought back from a two-goal deficit, but could not pull out the winner, as Grand Junction topped the Demons 4-3 in overtime on Saturday in Grand Junction.
Durango (8-4. 4-2, 5A/4A Southwestern League) went up early with a goal from Moritz Rosik in the fifth minute, but Grand Junction found a response. Shortly after, Grand Junction equalized on a mishap from goalkeeper Caleb McGrath, after an attempted punch on a corner kick wound up in the back of the net. It was tied 1-1 at halftime.
In the second half, Grand Junction (5-7-1, 4-2 SWL) scored twice to go up 3-1, including a header from Enrique Hernandez. Durango dug deep, and answered with two penalty kicks in the final five minutes of the match, and Rosik converted both to level the match at 3-3.
In the second extra period Luke Sturgeon put home the winner after the Demons failed to clear a corner kick on three chances.
DHS head coach Aaron Champenoy said the team will have to regroup in order to finish the league season on a high note.
“I was proud of the way we fought back,” Champenoy said. “I still thought that Grand Junction did a better job of winning the 50-50 chances, and I thought we got a little comfortable and that allowed them to get back into the match. It was a tough lesson for us, and with some big games coming up, we have to find a way to regroup and get back in the win column.”
The Demons will host Aztec (6-10) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
bploen@durangoherald.com
