The Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team has had a tough go to its regular season ending, six-match home stand.
The Lady Panthers lost the first three matches at M-CHS Gym, all in four sets, to very good teams in Bayfield, Durango and last Friday to Fruita Monument.
M-CHS lost a heartbreaker to the Fruita Lady Wildcats, 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 23-25, 14-25). But rebounded to knock off 5A Grand Junction Saturday, 3-1 (25-20, 23-35, 25-15, 25-17), completing a season sweep of the Lady Tigers.
After M-CHS tied the match with Fruita at the break after a second set win, the Lady Panthers came out and dominated the third set, except on the scoreboard.
With the score even at 8, Eiley Durham on the Lady Wildcats hit the ball out of bounds. That was followed by a picture-perfect serving ace by Abby Engel. The junior placed the serve right on top of the net, and the ball fell to the Fruita side of the floor for a 10-8 M-CHS advantage.
Seniors Amanda Chappell and Sydney Bayles kept their squad fired up with big kills to increase the lead. M-CHS had the crowd on its feet, a 5-point lead at 21-16, and all the momentum.
However, the 5A Lady Wildcats werent quite done. The Lady Panthers possessed a 22-18 lead, but Fruita scored six-straight behind three Teddi Larson kills and costly M-CHS mistakes.
Now down 24-22, Bayles stepped up to the plate, so to speak, with a spike on the left end line to cut the deficit to one. The Lady Panthers served to try and tie the game, but M-CHS was called for palming, which awarded Fruita the match point.
Fruita (12-6, 5-4 5A/4A Southwestern League) had an extra pep in its step in the last set and controlled the tempo throughout. M-CHS appeared emotionally exhausted, as the Lady Wilcats pulled away for an 11-point set win to claim the match.
We struggle with our confidence level on the court. I think when we got tied or got down, instead of playing fearlessly, they just kind of tried to play safe, and it doesnt work for us, M-CHS coach Barbara Chappell said.
The first set was much of the same with Fruita having more energy. The Lady Panthers claimed a short-lived 2-1 lead to start, then Fruita reeled off seven straight to take an 8-2 lead it did not relinquish.
M-CHS responded in the second set, scoring the first six points, and did not let up. Bayles and Danielle Waltman led the way. Devon Biery spiked the winning kill to even the match 1-1 for the Lady Panthers.
Amanda Chappell and Bayles each posted double-doubles in defeat with 12 kills and 14 digs, and 13 kills and 11 digs. Engel had a team high 16 digs, while Mortensen recorded a team best 28 assists.
Against Grand Junction (9-10, 1-7 5A/4A SL), it was the Lady Panthers time. The home black and orange cats made it look easy in the first set, as M-CHS took out its losing frustrations on Grand Junction. The Lady Panthers (7-10, 3-5 5A/4A SL) had a 20-10 lead before the Lady Tigers scored four straight to cut it to 20-14. Grand Junction got within four at 24-20, but Oliver blocked Alicia Copp for the winning point.
Set two was more competitive, but it barely went in favor of the visitors. Grand Junction appeared to have things all sewn up leading 24-19. M-CHS had other ideas. Two Lady Tigers net errors, and a Bayles kill and serving ace made it 24-23. Grand Junction coach Lynette Robinson called timeout, and the next play Sabrina Trujillo spiked the winning kill on the back end line.
With the Lady Panthers again tied 1-1 in a match, this time they delivered.
Tied 6-6, it was all M-CHS and Waltman from there. Up 15-12, Waltman converted five kills in the next six possessions to increase the Lady Panthers lead at 20-12. The sophomore didnt stop there, she had an assisted block with Biery to make it 21-12. Up 24-15, Waltman and Oliver blocked the match point for the 10-point win.
Coach always tells us to be fearless and not to get down on yourself, Waltman said. Once you get out of your own head, thats when you can start playing better. I just mentally got back into it and played fearless.
The Lady Panthers took care of business from there, building a 10-point lead in the final set and coasting to an 8-point win, clinching the match.
We didnt just push back, we shoved them back, Waltman said. When you shove back, thats when you keep your leads. Thats when you can put the ball down and play like you know you can, like our team can.
Waltman blocked Grand Junction nine times, and chipped in eight digs and 11 kills. Bayles had 10 kills, Engel, 18 digs, and Amanda Chappell, 12 digs.
Everybody stepped up, Barb Chappell said. All of our hitters played well today. Our defense in the back row, with Abby, we count on her to play some tough D, and she does. I think it all just came together for us. Today, they decided they were the better team and that they were going to win, no matter what.
M-CHS will stay home to compete for a spot in the district tournament against Grand Junction Central and Montrose on Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.