Smallest by size – in terms of school enrollment and probably players’ stature – at the 2024 Greeley West Invitational Saturday, Ignacio’s Volleycats enjoyed being the relative unknown and shocked two of their three opponents.
“Honestly, we meshed and jelled really well – really had a good night before of team building – and really complemented one another,” said head coach Jennifer Seibel. “And it just really showed on the court; we had cohesiveness, we had communication, we had hustle … and of course we served lights-out again and played solid defense.”
Arriving in distant Weld County standing 7-5 overall, IHS left a more confident 9-6. Beginning the day in best-of-three play, Ignacio knocked off 5A Denver North, which went 17-8 overall in ’23, in straight sets, 25-14 and 25-17, but then ran into a stout opponent in Fort Collins-based Poudre.
“They had a 6’2” girl who was amazing, both their middles were really good, and they had a really big outside (hitter),” Seibel said. “But we definitely took a lot from the Poudre game, in just how to compete against that size – we’re tiny and mighty; that’s what Ignacio is – and how to use their size against them just by playing smarter … using our vision and our volleyball I.Q., trying to be one step ahead.”
And as evidenced by the scores, even in a 19-25, 25-19, 10-15 loss the 2A ’Cats were capable of running with, if not fully chasing down the 5A Impalas.
“ (Poudre’s) middles were their biggest threats, so we pushed right-side to get their setter out of system,” explained Seibel, “and it did work for us that second set; they couldn’t utilize their middles as much and we got that win.”
Knowing 2A/1A San Juan Basin League work was soon due to resume, IHS wrapped up the intense one-day event sweeping 4A Keenesburg Weld Central 25-21, 25-21, 26-24. Ignacio’s work against WCHS (3-12) earned the ’Cats third place.
“We were really pumped; we saw some really good competition,” said Seibel. “My girls were very antsy to play! Had a lot of passion to get out there, and a lot of pent-up feelings of ‘We need to play!’ because we’d been practicing for a solid week and a half. But our conditioning went to the next level, preparing for three matches in one day.”
Which will only help the ’Cats (5-2 SJBL; 4-1 2A SJBL) suit up for action three times in three days. Seibel is excited about the challenge of facing Mancos on Thursday and said her team is focused on playing without fear.
Awaiting Ignacio’s arrival, MHS stands 13-4 overall and on a three-match winning streak
