CORTEZ – When a rotation of mostly new starters heard their names announced inside The Jungle for their season opening match on Thursday, M-CHS head coach Danielle Waltman knew that visiting Durango would give her team an abrupt welcome to varsity volleyball.
A junior-laden collection of starters cut their teeth the hard way, but started to grow in confidence as the match progressed in a Durango 25-9, 25-13, 25-19 sweep.
“I’m proud of girls, they decided to lock in and play the game that they know,” said Waltman, recognizing that most of her team had never stepped on the floor for a varsity match prior to Thursday night’s encounter.
Durango (1-0) welcomed a couple new starters of their own, headlined by sophomore Natalee Mora stepping into the setting shoes of graduated senior Indie Shows.
Mora found plenty of her targets, as returning seniors Cadence Croll and Swift Webber dictated net play early on, while junior Devyn Edwards made an early statement that she’ll be one of the most feared right arms in the Southwestern League.
Durango head coach Kelley Rifilato got everyone in her varsity rotation some court action throughout a night in which both teams shook off some of the early-season jitters. Junior Taylor Conway shined in significant action, attacking from the edges to earn several kills.
Punctuated by powerful Edwards and Webber kills, runs of seven straight points in the first set and eight of the first nine points in the second frame put the visitors in firm control.
M-CHS adjusted in the third set, switching from a 6-2 formation to a 5-1, leaning on freshman Gabby Hollen to do the primary setting and moving junior Addison Sopha to the perimeter. The change paid immediate dividends, as the Panthers (0-1) stayed within striking distance in the third stanza, tied at 12 at one point before the Demons rattled off seven of the next eight points.
“The players trusted in the change, and trusted in each other, and that allowed for better game play,” said Waltman, who also lauded Sopha for making the switch from setter to outside hitter at a moment’s notice. “She (Sopha) has never played out there before, but she’s willing to do whatever she can to help the team – and I can’t ask any more of her than that.”
M-CHS front line juniors Alana Harris and Addalynn Nielson nailed down a couple of kills apiece through the Durango wall in the final set to give the 3A Panthers a boost in confidence heading into a busy early stretch to kick off the season.
After facing Monticello 24 hours later, the Panthers look forward to a meeting with Grand County (UT) on Wednesday before kicking off 3A/2A Intermountain League play at Bayfield on Thursday.
“There’s no better practice than getting to get out there and play in a match, and Durango’s really tough, but playing these types of teams keeps us on our toes and helps us learn a lot about ourselves,” Waltman said.
The Demons joust with their first two 5A/4A Southwestern League opponents in their five match homestand, beginning with Fruita Monument on Aug. 28, followed by Grand Junction one day later.
