Two matches, two five-set contests between Durango High School and Farmington.
Both teams have now won on the road against each other this year, as the Demons this time fell at home 3-2. The Scorpions (1-2) won the first set 27-25, the third set 25-17 and fifth set 15-11, while Durango won the second 25-22 and the fourth 25-18.
“It’s nice in the terms of experience getting to play two of these games,” said DHS head coach Colleen Vogt. “We are so young in so many positions. It feels like in 10 sets we’ve grown up so much.
“We still make errors and sometimes have a hard time putting the ball away, but I love how hard they battle and fight. It’s something that comes from them, and they do it every day in practice. I’m proud of that.”
DHS was without star senior outside hitter Millie O’Ketter, who injured her ankle in last week’s five-set win at Farmington. In her place, junior Lainey Voss stepped in and helped mightily at the net and defensively, as she had nine kills and 17 digs.
The Demons (1-1) were led in kills by Paige Ammerman, who had 11. She also added 15 assists. Emmy Romero led the team with 18 assists.
Kyle Rowland had an all-around game with 15 digs, eight kills and three aces.
Vogt also was impressed with the play of middle blockers Sydney Summers and Grace Caldwell. They each had four kills.
“The stats don’t show it, but they’re coming a long way and creating a lot of offense,” Vogt said.
After a week before the season-opener and the second game, DHS will again wait to play Piedra Vista on the road Tuesday in Farminton before a home match next week against Pagosa Springs.
Make it a 3-0 start to 2019 for the Ignacio Bobcats.
Led by Makayla Howell, the Bobcats held off early rallies by Ridgway to earn a 3-0 victory, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16.
IHS was dominant in the serving game behind Howell and Charlize Valdez. Marisa Carmenoros set up the offensive attack with assists, and Alexis Pontine had a big game at the net.
The first set was filled by miscues from both sides, but IHS took advantage 24-23 and put the game away with a Pontine tip shot. In the second set, Ridgway raced to a 5-1 lead, but a Valdez ace would tie it at 5-5. With IHS up 15-14, the Bobcats got hot and pulled away and closed the set with back-to-back kills from Howell and Valdez.
Ridgway (1-4, 0-1 2A/1A San Juan Basin League) went up 6-3 in the third set, but a Howell tip shot tied it at 6-6. Another tip from Howell made it 7-6 Ignacio, which went up 12-9 after an ace from freshman Grace Gonzales. Ridgway tied it again at 12-12, but a Pontine cross-court kill sparked an 11-0 Ignacio run highlighted by Howell’s expert serving. A Howell tip shot ended the match.
IHS (3-0, 1-0 2A/1A SJBL) next will travel to face Mancos on Sept. 12. IHS is closing in on the CHSAANow.com rankings only one spot away from the top 10. IHS has dropped only one set so far this season.
Pine River Times sports writer Joel Priest contributed to this report.
