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BHS volleyball embraces the target

No. 4 Wolverines to face two New Mexico teams this week
Maddi Foutz mostly has played libero during her time at Bayfield High School, but this year the Wolverines have experimented with their lineups, allowing her to play some outside hitter. Foutz is tied for second on the team with 30 kills.

There’s a target on the Bayfield High School volleyball team’s back, and the Wolverines know it.

They’re ranked No. 4 in the latest Colorado High School Activities Association Class 3A poll after a big 3-1 win against Piedra Vista and a third-place showing at Lewis Palmer’s tournament.

“We definitely had a busy week last week. We’ve had a little bit of a hiatus,” BHS head coach Terene Foutz said of the Wolverines’ week break between matches. “We gave the kids a break after (Piedra Vista). They were exhausted after the preseason. We’re gearing up and getting back into competition shape.”

BHS (6-2) next will host the Farmington Lady Scorpions at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Wolverines have tested themselves this season by playing schools in a larger classification in every match so far.

“Any team that we play this season is a dangerous team for Bayfield in that we’re a ranked team in 3A Colorado. We’re a target,” Foutz said. “Any team that plays us would like to knock us off that ranking. We’re that carrot that they’re always striving to catch. Our task, our burden, is to stay in front and hold our Bayfield pace and keep working toward a postseason.

“It’s not always easy being sought after.”

BHS has won three matches in a row and six out of their last seven.

BHS senior Kirstie Hillyer leads the Wolverines and ranks second in Class 3A with a .521 hitting percentage and is third in the state with 4.8 kills per set.

BHS sophomore Maddie Foutz and senior Jessie Roukema both average 1.8 kills per set for BHS, and Foutz also leads them with 61 digs.

Senior setter Suzie Rhodes averages more than 7.1 assists per set.

“We’re hoping to retain that pace and offense speed,” Terene Foutz said.

On the other side of the net, Farmington (2-2) has lost its last two games against Monticello (Monticello, Utah) and Monument Valley (Kayenta, Arizona) after sweeping Kirtland Central and Shiprock to open the season.

Lydia Byrom is the Scorpions’ primary offensive weapon, leading the team with 50 kills.

BHS also will play Aztec on Thursday at home before embarking on its league schedule, where the Wolverines haven’t lost since 2007.

“It’s crucial (to face this level of competition now) because we know that at least four Patriot League teams are in that top 10. They all play each other on a regular basis, on a weekly basis,” Terene Foutz said. “We’re that team that really has to prove ourselves in the shoulders, in the peripheral out here in Southwest Colorado. Our test is really playing to the best of our ability in every match.”

kgrabowski@durangoherald.com

Sep 15, 2014
Once more before league


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