The Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team returned home after a two-week absence on Thursday night.
Monument Valley High School of Kayenta, Ariz., was the opponent. A team that knocked off the Lady Panthers 3-1 in Kayenta last year.
This season? Same result, different match, different location.
It was early Monument Valley turnovers that gave M-CHS an early lead in the third set, as the Lady Panthers had their backs against the wall down two sets to none.
The set was back-and-forth throughout. The Lady Panthers led 24-22, only to see MVHS score three straight to take a 25-24 lead. M-CHS senior outside hitter Amanda Chappell stepped up for the kill to tie the game. She spiked the tying kill again to knot the score at 27. A Lady Mustangs error and a kill from M-CHS sophomore outside hitter Imari Black gave the Lady Panthers a 29-27, third set win to extend the match.
However, the fourth set saw M-CHS physically and emotionally drained. The Lady Panthers couldnt keep up with the smaller Lady Mustangs. MVHS used their efficient passing to execute play after play, and it ran away with a 16-point, fourth set win to clinch the match.
M-CHS, again, fell to Monument Valley, 3-1 (17-25, 20-25, 29-27, 9-25).
I just think that we dont believe in ourselves, M-CHS coach Barbara Chappell said. I just think that we struggle with that whole mental process. Thats going to have to change for us to be successful.
In the first two sets, the Lady Panthers committed costly turnovers and errors for free Lady Mustangs points. While MVHS (7-1, Division III) continually played within its system and capitalized on M-CHS (4-4, 4A Southwestern League) mistakes.
Its all mental with us, said Amanda Chappell about the team errors. We just have to go out there and play like we know how. We get tentative and get scared. I think if we play like we know how, then we can really capitalize like they did tonight.
In set two, the Lady Panthers rallied from an early 7-3 hole to take a 10-7 lead behind Amanda Chappell and fellow senior outside hitter Sydney Bayles.
Monument Valley scored five in a row to regain the lead for good at 12-10. M-CHS would stay close and tie it at 15. But a rotation error and a hit out of bounds by the Lady Panthers gave the lead back to the road team.
Some rotation errors should not have happened. We should know where were at in rotation. Those kind of things matter, Barb Chappell said.
The Lady Mustangs built a 22-17 lead and had to withstand one last M-CHS rally. The Lady Panthers scored the next three points, but that was as close as they would get in the set, as they trailed 2-0 at intermission.
Theyre always tough. Theyre always consistent, Barb Chappell said about Monument Valley. I do think that we could have played a better game with them. Especially that fourth set. I really think that we could have.
Coach Chappell feels her team right now is inconsistent.
Its just growing pains. Its early on in the season. We just need to keep stepping up. Not just our seniors, but everybody out there on the floor, she said.
M-CHS will begin league play with a five-match road trip starting at Grand Junction and Fruita Monument next Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.