With the regular season winding down, Tuesday night’s volleyball action delivered high-stakes drama. Mancos and Montezuma-Cortez battled through seesaw matches but came up short.
The Bluejays (7-13) remain on the cusp of 2A postseason contention with three matches to play. They delivered one of their most intense performances of the season against visiting Telluride. After dropping the first set 25-23, Mancos led for stretches of the second, even earning a set point at 24-23. However, Telluride erased the opportunity with three straight points to take a 2-0 lead.
Mancos capitalized in the third set, closing it out 25-23 to force a fourth. In the final frame, Telluride made key plays down the stretch to secure a 25-22 win and the match.
The Bluejays travel to Ridgway for a doubleheader Saturday, Oct. 25, before closing the regular season Thursday, Oct. 30, with Senior Night against Ouray.
M-CHS opened with a dominant 25-15 win against the Miners, but the home team responded with a 25-20 second set to prevent the Panthers from pulling away. As the match tightened, Montezuma-Cortez and North Fork traded rallies. The Panthers surged late to take the third set 25-21, but the Miners held off a comeback to win the fourth by the same score.
In the deciding set, M-CHS led most of the way, including an 11-8 advantage, before the Miners rallied to tie and clinch match point at 15-13.
The Panthers finish the regular season 11-12, their best record since 2021. They await playoff placement in the 36-team regional field, with action beginning Nov. 8.
The Bears (18-1) kept pace with league-leading Ignacio, cruising past Ridgway 25-15, 25-10, 25-10. They now prepare for their penultimate league match Thursday against Telluride, followed by a showdown Oct. 28 at DHS Fieldhouse with a share of the San Juan Basin League title on the line.
The visiting Mustangs completed a season sweep of Dove Creek, winning 25-17, 25-21, 25-20. The Bulldogs have three matches left and aim to shake up the league standings. They face the top-ranked Wildcats Saturday, then host Norwood on Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Ridgway for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 1.