By Jim Thomas

DENVER -- Montezuma-Cortez High School has not been represented at the State Volleyball Tournament since the 1993 season when the Panthers captured third place in Class 3A when Sharon Peterson was head coach and Lindy Mortensen was an assistant. The Panthers are making another appearance in the elite tournament but this time in Class 4A.

But it has been even longer since Dolores has appeared. In fact, none of the players on this year’s team were even around when the Bears last appeared in 1978. The Bears will participate in the Class 2A tourney this year under the direction of coach Joye McHenry.

Both tournaments will be held beginning with pool play at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, in Denver University’s Magness Arena. Should the Panthers and/or Bears survive Friday’s action and finish among the top two in their respective pools they will compete in Saturday’s semifinals after being cross-bracketed. The finals in Class 2A are scheduled for 2:15 p.m. and the finals in Class 4A at 4:45 p.m.

The Panthers (23-2) are the no. 3 seed in Pool I. Mullen (20-4) is top seed. ThunderRidge (19-8) is the no. 2 seed and Sand Creek (18-9) is the no. 4 seed. In Pool II, Berthoud (22-4) is the no. 1 seed, Pine Creek (22-5) is the no. 2 seed, Fort Morgan (25-1) is the no. 3 seed and Rifle (23-6) is the no. 4 seed.

The Panther starters will likely be Annie Mortensen, Lindsay Waggoner, Holly Tanner, Stefanie Allison, Denise Newlin, and Casey Bauer. Reserves are Brianna McCabe, Emilie Lanier, Andrea Derrick, and Krista Randolph.

The Panthers open the tourney the first day by playing ThunderRidge and then play Mullen. They must get up early and play Sand Creek at 8 a.m. Saturday which completes pool play.

"The girls are excited about going to State," Mortensen commented. "We had a tough Regional so it was a lot of relief to get through it. This has been a long road for these girls. They have been playing volleyball since the spring. They are totally committed."

She believes the success of the team has been their willingness to play as a team and not as a bunch of individuals.

"I’ve always told them the strength of this team is their team concept. They enjoy playing with each other and there has been no discipline problems at all," she added.

"We are looking forward to the challenge. All the teams who have reached this level of play are good. The only team in our bracket we’ve seen play is Mullen last summer. All the teams in our pool are strong, solid teams. We can’t make any mistakes if we plan making it out of pool play," Mortensen remarked.

Cortez earned the right to advance to State by finishing second in the Region D Tournament in Pueblo on Nov. 6. They opened with a 10-15, 14-16 loss to Pine Creek but came back and beat Widefield 15-2, 15-7 and crushed top-seeded Pueblo Centennial High School 15-3, 15-1.

Likewise, McHenry feels the team concept is the strength of her team.

"I guess I would have to say unity. Everyone gets along and they play well together. I think we have very good team work," she said.

McHenry said the best team may be in Pool I in Fowler, a perennial powerhouse and multi-State titlists.

"But the next three best teams are in my pool. Everyone is evenly matched. We will have to play well to advance," she added.

The Bears (24-2) are the no. 2 seed in Pool II. Swink (21-4) is the top seed while Strasburg (25-1) is the no. 3 seed and Julesburg (17-5) the no. 4 seed. In Pool I, Platte Valley (25-0) is the top seed, Caliche (19-6) is the no. 2 seed, Wiley (18-7) no. 3 seed, and West Grand (16-8) no. 4 seed.

Dolores starters will probably be Ruthie Martin, Brianna Hanson, Lindy Fredrick, Shelly Rhodes, April LeBlanc, and Erin Chanay. Reserves are Rachel Ragland, Amber Simmons, and Brittney Sparks.

The Bears play Strasburg then they take on Julesburg and finish pool play against Swink. The Bears earned the right to advance to State at the Region C Volleyball Tournament at Palisade High School.