Nine matches into its season, the Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team is off to a solid start.
Competing at the Delta Tournament, which was held Sept. 5-6, the Panthers won four consecutive matches, besting Centauri, Olathe, Basalt and Pagosa Springs.
Opening play against Centauri on Sept. 5, the Panthers blasted their overmatched opponents in straight sets, winning 25-8, 25-16, 25-14.
Helping lead the Panthers to the win was Naomi Pinnecoose, who led the team with 15 kills, 11 digs and three aces. Also contributing to the Panthers victory was Laurel Chappell, whose impressive setting resulted in 32 assists.
Immediately after concluding its match against Centauri, M-CHS squared off against a feisty Olathe team and won in five sets, 25-9, 12-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13.
“(Olathe) surprised us the second game,” said Panthers head coach Andi Pickens. “They hit everything that our team was trying to put down.”
Again leading the Panthers in the win was Pinnecoose, who had 36 kills, 23 digs and six aces. Also putting together a solid statistical performance was Kristin Pierce, who had 11 kills and 23 digs.
Playing its third match of the tournament on Sept. 6, the Panthers came through with their most dominating performance of the season, defeating Basalt 25-12, 25-8, 25-5.
“The girls were finally getting the hang of playing as a team,” said Pickens. “They were talking a lot more as a team and they were just having fun.”
Concluding the tournament with their toughest match of the two-day event, the Panthers narrowly defeated Pagosa Springs, 23-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-14, 15-6.
“I think the girls really pulled together as a team,” said Pickens. “They kept talking and they didn’t shut down (after falling behind two sets). They weren’t timid.”
Thanks to its perfect weekend, M-CHS improved to 7-2 on the season. The Panthers will next play at home against Fruita Monument on Sept. 19 before playing at home against Grand Junction Central on Sept. 20.