The Bayfield High School student section chanted “You can’t stop her!” after Kirstie Hillyer’s first kill.
They were right, about Hillyer and the Wolverines.
Hillyer finished with 15 kills and three blocks in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-19) win for the fourth-ranked BHS volleyball team (11-2, 4-0 Intermountain League) against Monte Vista (3-11, 0-4 IML) on Thursday night in Bayfield.
The Wolverines controlled the match from the service line, collecting 13 aces and going on runs of at least five points in every set.
“We have worked from day one on locating. I think it’s starting to pay off because the kids are starting to hit some key seams that really slows some of these offenses down,” BHS head coach Terene Foutz said. “We received a lot of free balls (Thursday night), and we benefitted.”
Those free balls allowed for crisp passing and quick-tempo sets to Hillyer and fellow middle attacker Tessa Powell.
Monte Vista started all three games well, taking an early lead in all of them.
“We were more controlled, and we were not playing to lose; we were trying to win at that point,” Monte Vista head coach Kellyn Ross said. “We got a little bit intimidated by some of the hitters.”
The Wolverines won their fifth consecutive match and still haven’t dropped a set in league play.
“It’s easy to play down in these matches like this, so we definitely want to keep going,” said Hillyer, daughter of Laura and Rich Hillyer. “Push for it more so we don’t get dragged down.”
Foutz echoed her concern about complacency.
“We had goals (Thursday night), not necessarily about the opponent; it was about taking care of our side,” Foutz said.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
