FARMINGTON — Those girls returning from the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity volleyball team certainly started from where they left off from the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament which was held last November in Denver. The Panthers, led by Denise Newlin, Casey Bauer, and Stefani Allison, won their opening match of the season by beating Farmington High in three straight sets (play best-of-five in New Mexico) by scores of 15-6, 15-11, and 15-4 Tuesday night, Aug. 31, in Scorpion Gymnasium.

But coaches sometimes have a tendency to downplay how well they really played (always room for improvement) in the season opener.

"There are things we need to work on," MCHS head coach Lindy Mortensen said following the game. "The kids want to do everything perfectly for their opener. I think there were a little nerves involved. But we will try to build on this."

However, the Panthers looked very good in dominating the larger school.

In the first game, Bauer got the Panthers moving in the right direction with a perfectly-made kill that went down the sideline. A few minutes later, Allison put Cortez up 3-0 with a smash down the middle and Newlin blocked for another score. A pair of aces by Farmington’s Natalie Mik made the score 4-2. Cortez took advantage of a couple of Scorpion errors to go ahead 6-2 and an ace by Allison made the score 7-2. After the Panthers added another score, a few minutes later Emilie Lanier went up the service line and served for six straight points for a commanding 13-3 lead at which time FHS took a time out. Bauer made a kill for a 14-3 lead. But the Scorps came back with three straight points. Farmington then hit the ball into the net for the final 15-6 score.

The Panthers got off to a slow start in the second game. Farmington jumped ahead 0-3. Cortez finally scored and then the two teams traded sideouts for nearly 20 minutes. Mik served an ace and then Allison responded with a kill. The Scorps added a couple more points and the Panthers found themselves down 3-6. But that’s when Lanier went to work at the service line. She served for three straight to knot the game at 6-6. Farmington took advantage of a couple Cortez miscues for a 6-8 lead. But that’s when Bauer went to the service line and teammates Newlin and Colette Hall made a couple nice plays, a push and a block, respectively. Cortez was soon up 11-8. Farmington picked up a point off a Cortez hitting error. Newlin went to service line and Bauer made a kill to propel the Panthers to a 13-9 advantage. Again, Farmington cut the difference to 13-11. But Allison served an ace and Lanier made a tip for the winning 15-11 count.

Behind the serving of Andrea Derrick, the Panthers reeled off five straight points to start the third game. Allison made a kill, Newlin tipped, Bauer made two blocks and a kill. Farmington came back with three points thanks to a bad set and bad pass. But Cortez pulled itself together for an 8-3 lead. The Panthers soon went up 11-4. With Bauer serving, Cortez went ahead 14-4 and Farmington needed a time out. Allison put the resounding end to the game and match with a kill.

"I think we will keep getting better," she said. "We made some passing errors, a couple blocking errors, and timing on our blocks was off."

The Panthers travel for a game against perennially strong Class 3A Pagosa Springs at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. The Pirates defeated Cortez at home, the first game of last season. They will return to Farmington to compete in the Lady Scorpion Invitational Sept. 8-9. The Panthers are the defending champs.

MCHS will host a Cortez Middle School and Youth Volleyball Recognition Night with introduction of players just before the Southwest League varsity game against Central of Grand Junction on Sept. 29 in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. All CMS or Youth Volleyball players wearing their jerseys will be admitted free.