Ever hear that phrase ‘it takes one to know one’?
Most commonly used as a schoolyard retort, it in a way also seems applicable toward Ignacio volleyball’s preparation for a San Juan Basin League showdown this Saturday versus Dove Creek.
That is, to confidently face DC, IHS sought success first at a more distant, but no less dedicated DC.
Traveling to Lakewood, the Volleycats not only competed on Saturday at the Denver Christian Invitational … but very nearly took the whole taco. Putting the tournament field on notice right from the start with a 25-17, 25-12, 25-22 sweep of the hosting Thunder, Ignacio then stunned Holyoke 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-10 in the semifinals – avenging a three-game loss to the Dragons at last season’s event.
That pit the ’Cats against none other than Julesburg-based Sedgwick County, which not only won the Invitational last year, but also the 2022 CHSAA Class 2A State Championship. Not a bad opponent to challenge leading into Dove Creek Week.
But despite getting a reported six kills and four solo blocks from senior Solymar Cosio, plus double-digit dig totals from freshman libero Lily Quintana (14) and junior Marissa Olguin (10), Ignacio couldn’t keep pace after a tight first verse and ultimately fell 25-23, 25-14 and 25-13 to the Cougars.
“Sedgwick was an amazing team,” IHS head coach Jennifer Seibel said. “Very dynamic from any rotation.”
Junior Ollyvia Howe was credited with two kills, three aces and six digs, as the runner-up ’Cats departed the Metro Area standing 7-3 overall after posting a 2-1 tourney record.
SC head coach Alissa Renquist reported that junior Abigail Dille racked up 19 kills and sophomore Lainee Nein 12 (Nein also totaled 18 assists plus 19 digs; Dille logged eight digs) in the victory. Freshman Ryen Carlson registered 15 assists and as many digs as Sedgwick County went 3-0 for the day and improved to 8-1 overall.
Howe hammered 18 kills against Holyoke, notched herself a double-double in the five-game grind thanks to a reported 25 digs, and also fired six service aces. All three totals either led Ignacio outright or equaled a teammate’s high, as junior Marissa Olguin was also credited with 25 digs. Senior Solymar Cosio put down 12 kills and fired two aces offensively, and was also credited with an intimidating seven solo blocks (plus one assisted) and six digs defensively.
Freshman Kelly Sirios logged a reported 37 set assists against Holyoke, and nearly posted a double-double by coming up with nine digs. Senior Kacey Brown and freshman Lily Quintana were each credited with 19 digs, and senior Darlyn Mendoza-Lechuga was credited with 11.
Against Denver Christian, Cosio downed nine kills and Olguin seven, with Howe contributing six as Sirios was credited with 19 assists. Howe came up with 10 digs while Brown booked eight and Olguin seven. Cosio, Howe and Brown – who led in aces with a solid seven – were each in on one solo and one assisted block, giving each a total of two.
The Durango High School and Bayfield High School volleyball teams also competed on the Front Range on Saturday, playing four games in one day at the Lewis-Palmer Tournament. The Demons went 2-2 in the tournament to improve to 6-2 overall. DHS lost to Windsor 25-18 and 25-11 to start the tournament, but came back and beat Coronado 25-10 and 25-20. DHS then beat Holy Family in three, 25-23, 21-25 and 15-13.
DHS played Pueblo West in its final game of the tournament, but came up short 25-11 and 25-17.
Bayfield, meanwhile, went 1-3 in the tournament. The Wolverines lost 20 to Loveland and Niwot, but came back and beat Coronado in three. The Cougars won the first set 25-20, but BHS took the next two 25-19 and 15-10 to take the match. Bayfield then played Montrose in its final game, but fell 2-0.
Durango will begin its 4A/5A Southwestern League season this week with a pair of home games. DHS will host Montrose (4-4, 1-0) at 6 p.m. Friday and Grand Junction Central (2-3, 0-1) at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Bayfield is scheduled to play at league foe Pagosa Springs (3-5) tonight and will host Centauri (5-4) on Friday.
