The Durango High School volleyball team was dealt a big blow Saturday to its playoff hopes after falling to Rock Canyon and Chatfield in the Ponderosa Tournament in Parker.
The Demons were swept in the first game, as they fell 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 to Rock Canyon. In the second against Chatfield, the Demons lost in four sets, 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20.
In the first match against Rock Canyon, sophomore setter Paige Ammerman led the way with seven kills while junior outside hitter Millie O’Ketter recorded 18 digs.
Durango was led by O’Ketter against Chatfield, as she had 12 kills and 17 digs, while Ammerman had 18 assists.
With the loss the Demons (9-14, 3-5 5A/4A Southwestern League) are now squarely on the playoff bubble.
“We’re currently 34th in RPI, and we’re sitting on the right side of the bubble,” said Demons head coach Colleen Vogt. “We definitely competed with the top teams in state very well, and we’re hoping to get rewarded with that. We really have been playing strong as of late, and we’re hoping to get another week of practice.”
The latest RPI poll came out on Sunday, which saw the Demons slip six spots to No. 40 and out of the top-36 after Saturday’s results.
For now, all the Demons can do is wait until the bracket is released on Monday.
“The top-36 make it, so we’ll see,” Vogt said. “There will be a lots of movement in the next 24 hours or so; we will have to wait. It’s not always based off of true RPI, and so teams will definitely move around. But, in the meantime, I think based off of our schedule and results, we might just sneak in.”
The Bayfield High School volleyball team played four games at the Palmer Ridge Invitational in Monument on Saturday, and the Wolverines’ performance was highlighted by two games, as they defeated Broomfield in three sets at 25-23, 21-25 and 25-22 and then lost to Montrose in three, 24-26, 27-25 and 25-22.
The Wolverines (7-15, 5-5 Class 3A Intermountain League) played Broomfield close all afternoon as they erased a 17-9 deficit in the second set but fell 21-25. In the deciding third set, the Wolverines also dug themselves a big hole when they went down 18-8. However, they were able to come back thanks to the play of the front line. Sophomore opposite hitter Macee Schultz recorded the game-winning block on Broomfield’s Sophie Buschmann.
“Bayfield played very strong today,” BHS head coach Terene Foutz said. “It was a great tournament, and we played stronger as the event unfolded, and we came together competitively. Tymbree Florian was a constant offensive threat and distributed the ball very well. Jannika Pope and Rachel Bauer played great today and are incredible leaders and mentors to our younger players. Lana McKee was amazing at the libero position all tournament long.”
The Wolverines sit in 39th in the latest RPI poll in Class 3A and are three spots out of the top-36 teams who qualify for the regional playoffs. They will await their fate when the brackets come out on Monday.
bploen@durangoherald.com
