A senior laden 2010 Lady Panthers squad had a solid season.
They went 14-12 overall and recorded a 6-4 5A/4A Southwestern League record, which earned them a trip to the Region D tournament at Durango High School. Middle blocker/outside hitter Andi Pickens made All-State for the Lady Panthers last year and played in the 55th Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State game.
That was then and this is now.
Longtime assistant coach Barbara Chappell has taken over as head coach of a young Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team. Chappell has three strong seniors this season in outside hitters Amanda Chappell and Sydney Bayles, and setter Cheyenne Mortensen. The trio will be expected to carry a significant load this year, but thats all right with them.
I feel like all three of us have played together for so long that we have chemistry, Amanda Chappell said. We just have to get all three of us to get that chemistry to everyone else.
Barb Chappell also welcomes the addition of assistant coaches Casey Bauer and Emily Pearson. Bauer is a former M-CHS and Colorado State University volleyball standout. She was also an assistant coach for Lindy Mortensen at Adams State College in Alamosa. Bauer played for Lindy Mortensen at M-CHS. The seniors definitely feel comfortable with the new coaching staff.
Ive played for Barb my whole life, so its nothing new. Shes a good coach, Cheyenne Mortensen said.
Although there will be a lot of inexperience at the varsity level, Barb Chappells group of girls played many matches together in offseason club volleyball in the Intermountain Volleyball Association. The coach feels that experience of club ball will greatly benefit the Lady Panthers for the upcoming season.
A lot of the kids committed to offseason stuff. It makes a huge difference when theyre able to play together and learn what they need to learn on the court, Barb Chappell said. Instead of starting at a lower level, were starting at a level higher.
Barb Chappell feels the team has a lot of room for growth, which isnt necessarily a bad thing. The coaches look at the Lady Panthers and see them as only getting better.
All these girls are competitors and athletes. I think well go out on the court and be the very best we can, and hopefully the results will show that, Barb Chappell said.
M-CHS will see a schedule much like last season with the same nonconference opponents. This year the Lady Panthers will host Pagosa Springs, Monument Valley (Kayenta, Ariz.) and Bayfield, while traveling to San Juan (Blanding, Utah). M-CHS will be in Colorado Springs for the Mesa Ridge High School tournament again beginning on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Before regular season play starts, the Lady Panthers will be at Pagosa Springs High School on Saturday for a scrimmage. The girls are excited to hit the court and expectations remain high.
I definitely think we can make it to regionals again, Bayles said with an ice pack wrapped around her back. We just have to keep growing as a team. I just want to play.
M-CHS starts league play on Friday, Sept. 23, at Grand Junction in what begins a five-match road trip. The Bayfield match on Friday, Oct. 7, is the beginning of a six-match home stand to conclude the regular season.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
