COLORADO SPRINGS – Proud of having earned their program’s first-ever trip to the CHSAA State Volleyball Championships, senior-blessed Soroco, pained by an opening loss to Holyoke, made amends Friday at Broadmoor World Arena at the expense of unlucky Ignacio – a program seeing state for the first time in 34 years.
“I think they were a little mad at themselves and knew they had missed an opportunity,” said Soroco skipper Jeannie Jo Logan, referring to her No. 4 Lady Rams’ 8-25, 16-25, 17-25 setback Thursday, avenged via a 30-28, 25-16, 25-20 sweep of Ignacio on Friday.
The Volleycats were also primed to pounce and pressured Oak Creek-based Soroco (19-4 overall) often during each stanza’s earliest movements. Ignacio nearly pushed Friday’s 8 a.m. match to a fourth game before a double-contact infraction on match point, 24-20, in Game 3 ended the contest.
“Today they played really good,” said Ignacio head coach Shasta Pontine. “They played tough.”
Having rallied out of a 9-6 hole to tie at 11-all, Ignacio relinquished the upper hand – for good, as it turned out – when junior Grace Gonzales was whistled for a back-row violation on a successful roll shot. SHS junior Shelby Geiger followed with a kill, and SHS separated out to 16-11, forcing coach Pontine to take a timeout – and offer advice the ’Cats steadily heeded as they crept back to as close as 19-17 via a service ace by freshman Ollyvia Howe.
But senior Sophia Benjamin, the Lady Rams’ top gun, tooled a kill off an attempted block, sparking a crippling 4-1 run that included a Benjamin ace – to put Soroco up 23-18. Gonzales managed to place a crosscourt kill, and IHS also scored on the next exchange, but senior Alexis Pontine’s subsequent attempted push to the deep corner floated just long – giving SHS first crack at claiming the contest.
“We went out there … the highest we’ve ever been in a long time,” Gonzales said. “We’ve been practicing really hard all year, and … I’m really proud of our team. I think we’re going to do well in future games.”
Game No. 2 against SHS was one the ’Cats – who fell behind 10-4 and later trailed 21-11 – would probably have wished to take a mulligan on. Game 1, however, was as state-caliber as Ignacio could have dreamed.
Able to go toe-to-toe right from the opening whistle with Soroco, IHS faltered ever so slightly as the Lady Rams opened up a 14-10 lead. IHS junior Harmony Reynolds finally countered with an over-pass kill and the ’Cats would gradually rally to 22-21 after consecutive Gonzales aces and a Pontine kill. Soroco senior Peyton Parker managed to drop in a tip shot, but Pontine scored in the same manner and Reynolds placed an ace to at last equalize at 23.
Another Reynolds ace put Ignacio on game point, but her next serve sailed long. Lady Ram senior Eden Mayer capitalized, tipping over Solymar Cosio, but SHS’ first chance at game point fizzled after a net violation. Brunson took full advantage, curving a beautiful ace into Soroco’s vacant center, but Mayer re-tied the score at 26 with a virtual dunk shot.
Ignacio would re-tie the score at 27 and 28 before Benjamin belted a kill off an attempted block. Eager until the end, Ignacio senior Lexy Young then pounded a potentially tying kill long, and the ’Cats were forced into thinking “comeback” down 1-0 in the sides’ survival struggle. Soroco, however, was able to complete the sweep to keep its season alive.
“I’m proud of all of us for sticking together,” Brunson said.
“I’m just sad this is our last year playing together,” senior reserve Elisia Cruz said. “We’ve grown up together, and I’m just so proud of everyone.”
The Cats finish their season with a 19-8 overall record after reaching the state tournament for the first time since 1987.
“This was a phenomenal season and special group of kids,” coach Pontine said. “Having that opportunity (to compete) at state was just amazing for the girls to know what they’re capable of. It was very important for them to see they can reach that high level.”
Cruz, Alexis Pontine and Young were the team’s lone seniors this year.
“They did really well encouraging everybody and brought them together,” coach Pontine said.
