Montezuma-Cortez High School head volleyball coach Lindy Mortensen certainly had a busy summer.

Not only did she take two players to the Colorado High School Coaches Assocation’s All-State Volleyball Match (Classes 4A, 5A) and coach the Red Team, but she also took several teams to tournaments throughout the state. Trena Walker, a MCHS assistant, also coached the team.

The Panthers, who finished tied for third at the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament, should have another very strong team again this fall. And one of the reasons for that is their dedication during the summer in preparation for the regular season.

One recent tournament Mortensen took players to was the Mustang Classic Volleyball Tournament in Fort Morgan. This is the largest high school (not club) summer tourney in the nation. There were 111 teams involved in four divisions. Fort Morgan, incidentally, won the 4A title last year and has won the crown several times in recent years.

Cortez I played in the top division, finishing third out of 35 teams. It had a match record of 12-2, losing to Rampart (from Colorado Springs) in the semi-finals. The Panthers beat Niwot 15-6, 15-7); Merino (15-5, 15-11); Weldon Valley (15-6, 15-12); Rifle (8-15, 2-15); Brush (15-8, 15-12); Greeley Central (17-15, 15-13); Platte Valley (15-6, 15-10); Eaton (15-4, 15-12); Strasburg (15-4, 15-12); Sterling (15-5, 15-6); Lamar (15-12, 15-13); Merino (14-16, 15-13, 15-13), and Rampart (8-15, 7-15).

The Cortez I players were Denise Newlin, Emilie Lanier, Nicole McDaniels, Casey Bauer, Colette Hall, Ashley Swank, and Stefanie Allison.

Cortez II had a match record of 9-5, finishing in the top 12 out of 35 teams in Division II. Members of that unit included Merina Lippis, Emily Harclerode, Liz Dennison, Amanda Norris, Sasha Yarbrough, Lindsey Wilson, Courtney Lanier, and Elise Stephens.

MCHS also participated in the Cherry Creek Tournament were it won the pool but finished ninth. The Panthers hosted their own tournament and placed second, losing to powerhouse Monument Valley (Kayenta, Ariz.) in the finals. They also played matches against Pagosa Springs, Bayfield, Mancos, and Pagosa Springs.

The two girls who participated in the All-State match were graduated players Lindsay Waggoner and Annie Mortensen. They helped the Red Team to a 15-8, 15-7, 15-5 over the Blue Team in Butler Hancock Gym on the campus of University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

Other members of the team were Logan Pierce (Durango) Mandy Forrest (Pagosa Springs), Devon Widner (Rangely), Jennifer Russell (Summit), Michelle McBurney (Berthoud), Kate Matthews (Fort Morgan), Daisha Buckler (Thompson Valley), Kami Teeter (Brush), and Mallory Reust (Steamboat Springs). Sponsoring the local contingent were Southwest Designs, Southwest Diesel, lawyer Kelly McCabe, and Vectra Bank, and Cortez Milling.

Panther volleyball will begin Monday, Aug. 14, at 8 a.m. Players are required to get a physical and have all their forms (medical, insurance, parent permission) completed before they can practice.

Mortensen reported the University of Colorado women’s volleyball team will be holding a special practice in Cortez. The date is from 2-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. The public is invited to attend (no charge). There will be a question and answer period following the workout.

Volleyball season at Mancos High School and Mancos Middle School is not far behind.

First-year head coach Mona Shepherd takes over the program from longtime coach Bill Tourjee who resigned at the end of last season in order to spend more time with his family.

The first practice of official fall workouts will be from 4-6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, in the Mancos Performance Center. Joining the staff this year is Jeanine Menninen. She has been a trainer for the school the last couple of years.

"We are practicing at this time to allow everyone to continue working at their summer jobs a little longer," Shepherd said. "Unless we agree to change the times, I expect to stay at this schedule the remainder of the week."

She is reminding all players to be sure to get physicals and pick up the proper forms. Insurance waiver, parent/permission, physical forms must be completed before any player can practice. Players should also bring shoes and kneepads.

A parent meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, in the Performance Center. This is band and flag practice in the evenings that week so the meeting will be brief.

For more information, phone coach Shepherd at 533-7279.

MMS volleyball practice will run from 5-6:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 14 in the Old Gym. Practice is not mandatory until Aug. 21 starting at 3:30. Again, all players must have proof of insurance and a physical before they can practice. Each player also will have to have nine practices prior to the first game.