DOVE CREEK – If Tuesday night’s clash in the Dawg House was the first taste of the San Juan Basin League chase, then the main course promises a smorgasbord of exciting matches.
Mancos and Dove Creek battled back and forth throughout the night, with a nail-biting 31-29 third-set victory for the Jays proving to be the defining moment in a 25-22, 21-25, 31-29, 25-15 match win. The visiting Bluejays fended off multiple Dove Creek set points in the marathon third frame before finally capitalizing on their chance to seize momentum in the 3-1 contest.
For the Jays, the win was a big lift for a hungry, senior-led group, as Mancos extended points with feisty defense. Seniors Caylee Moore and Lexi Lyons enjoyed strong days in the backcourt, helping set up freshman setter Tymbri Priestley, who found attackers like senior Destiny Kramer.
The Jays (1-2) rallied from an early deficit in the opening set with a furious finish to close out the 25-22 win, but Dove Creek (1-4) responded with controlled net play in the second set from junior Mykaela Fury and senior Allex Williams, knotting the match at one set apiece.
The seesaw battle for the two-point edge in the third set eventually went to the visitors, catapulting Mancos into the fourth set, where the Jays sensed they were closing in on just their second win over Dove Creek in their last 21 meetings.
Dove Creek and Mancos will meet again – with the result officially factoring into the league standings – when they collide in Bluejay Fieldhouse on Sept. 23.
The win helped Mancos bounce back from a pair of opening-weekend defeats to Class 3A foes Buena Vista and Salida, while Dove Creek posted a 1-3 record in action from Rangely on Aug. 22-23. The Bluejays head to Kremmling for a series of matches in the West Grand-hosted tournament this Friday and Saturday, while Dove Creek opens league play on Tuesday, Sept. 2, against Telluride, following their Thursday evening match against Monticello.
