Ten games into its season, the Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team has played well, accumulating eight total wins.
The latest of those wins came on Sept. 11 when the Panthers, bolstered by solid all-around efforts by several players, defeated Pagosa Springs 25-19, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18.
Energized by a large crowd, M-CHS kicked off its home opener in style, jumping out to a 13-11 lead in the first set after a nice tip to the back right corner by Naomi Pinnecoose.
Not long after, the Panthers used a 7-1 run to pull ahead 22-16 before two kills by Pinnecoose and a hitting error by Pagosa allowed the Panthers to win the set 25-19.
“In the first set, we had a lot of energy going,” said Panthers senior Abby Chupp.
“I think they were really excited, but their nerves didn’t get the best of them,” added M-CHS head coach Andi Pickens. “It was really good to get that first win so they could keep pushing.”
M-CHS’s push towards victory hit a snag in the second set however, when, after jumping out to a 24-20 lead, the Panthers allowed Pagosa to win the final six points of the set.
“We just kind of stopped talking and let our energy go to the other side of the court,” said Chupp.
Thanks to several kills by Pinnecoose and Jennifer Pierce however, the Panthers regained their energy, jumping out to a 7-3 lead in the third set.
Later in the set, a kill by Pierce, followed by an ace by Danielle MacDonald allowed the Panthers to pull ahead 16-9. M-CHS eventually won the set 25-14 after a kill by Pinnecoose.
Intent on closing things out, the Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set on the strength of two Pinnecoose kills, a block by MacDonald and a hitting error by Pagosa.
Although Pagosa fought back to take a 10-9 lead, the Panthers soon seized control, moving ahead 17-12 on a tip by Laurel Chappell before closing things out with a hard kill by Chupp from the left side.
Leading the Panthers with 26 kills and 25 digs was Pinnecoose. Pierce registered 12 kills and five aces, while Chappell had four aces and 34 assists.
With the win, M-CHS improved to 8-2 on the season much to the delight of Pickens, who exited the match pleased with her team’s performance.
“I think we’ve done really well,” said Pickens. “I think they’ve progressed as a team and they are doing exactly what I ask them.”
Next up for the Panthers will be a matchup against Fruita Monument, which will take place in Cortez on Sept. 19.
“We can improve on our passing and our energy,” said Pierce, discussing her team’s upcoming matchup.