There really would be no doubt on who would get the final pass Tuesday night in Bayfield.
But just in case, senior Maddi Foutz-sensing vulnerability in the enemy's back row-shouted loudly enough for not only her setter to hear over a Homecoming Week crowd, but also visiting Piedra Vista as she virtually dared the opposition to stop what she'd be launching over.
They couldn't, and the Wolverines' bench spilled onto the floor celebrating not only their 10th triumph already in 2016 (the team won 13 last fall), but also a four-game defeat of their interstate rival in what was an 180-degree turnaround from last month's four-game loss down in Farmington.
"An awesome experience for our kids," was how an elated Terene Foutz summarized her crew's 13-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 win on "BLACKOUT NIGHT" inside BHS Gymnasium.
Able to discard an error-filled Game 1 and settle into the expected fight in Game 2, Bayfield (10-3, 5-0 3A Intermountain) grasped control when senior libero Emily Bauer held serve for five points to help break a 17-17 deadlock and put the home team on course to even the match.
Game 3 went into the books when junior Sydney Gabbard blasted a kill, but Game 4-and likely Game 4 only-will be observers' lasting memory. BHS ran out to a 5-0 lead before the Panthers (11-2, 1-0 NMAA Dist. 1-6A) managed a point. PVHS Coach Ron Becker had to spend a timeout when Foutz landed an ace to up the locals' lead to 10-3.
And things would only get better, with the advantage growing to a lopsided 15-3 before Piedra Vista finally showed life. But when senior Bebe Jaquez hit an ace to get the guests into double figures, they still trailed 17-10.
Bayfield junior Jade Pascale mashed a monstrous kill to keep her side well ahead at 19-12, but PVHS pressed Terene Foutz into taking a timeout when junior Meagan Ellis scored with a tip and senior Elli Wright downed a kill in response.
Piedra Vista would creep back to as close as 20-17 before BHS separated for good with a 3-1 burst capped by a bizarre point which truly demoralized the visitors. Jaquez laid into one of her hardest spikes yet, but not only did Bauer come up with the dig (she totaled 20) in the center of the back row, the ball rocketed back over the net into unprotected PVHS territory to put Bayfield only two points from victory.
Coming off sweeping Pagosa Springs (25-17, 25-16, 30-28) and Monte Vista (25-10, 25-10, 25-10) at last Saturday's IML triangular held at PSHS, Maddi Foutz had a double-double against PVHS with 13 kills and 14 digs. Junior Courtney Bayles totaled 41 assists as the Wolverines also got 10 kills from Pascale, nine from Gabbard and eight from junior Kylee McCoy.
Junior Ashley Mottin also smashed three kills while helping McCoy, Pascale and whomever else nearby contain Panther front-liners Stephanie Schmidt and Courtney Moore.
Up next for BHS will be an Oct. 11 trip to Montezuma-Cortez, resuming IML work. M-CHS, presently 5-10 overall and 2-4 in league, will have hosted 4A/5A Southwestern force Montrose and traveled to struggling non-league 3A Olathe prior to Bayfield's coming.
CHSAANOW.COM CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL POLL (issued 10/3): 1.Eaton, 2.Colorado Springs Christian, 3.Sterling, 4.Greeley University, 5.Gilcrest Valley, 6.Loveland Resurrection Christian, 7.Salida, 8.Granby Middle Park, 9.BAYFIELD, 10.Delta.
