Panthers host Region D Volleyball Tournament today; Jays at Regionals

Panthers host Region D Volleyball Tournament
Jays at Regionals

Nov. 4, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

MCHS HEAD COACH LINDY MORTENSEN gathers her team together for a timeout during a recent home volleyball game. The Panthers are the top seed going into today’s Region D Volleyball Tournament in Ron Wright Memorial Gym at Montezuma-Cortez High School. The Panthers play Cheyenne Mountain at 10:15 a.m., Summit at 12:45 p.m. and Pueblo West at 3:15. The first match starts at 9 a.m. with Pueblo West taking on Summit.

Pueblo West, Cheyenne Mountain, Summit County high schools will joining host Montezuma-Cortez today at the Class 4A Region D Volleyball Tournament all day today, Nov. 4, in Ron Wright Memorial Gym.

The no. 2 seeded Panthers tripped up top-seeded Steamboat Springs to win the Class 4A District 7 volleyball title last weekend at Glenwood High School. The victory earned the Panthers right to host Regionals.

MCHS is the District VII top seed Panthers (20-1 overall record). District V top seed is Pueblo West (22-1), District II no. 3 seed is Cheyenne Mountain (12-12), and District VI no. 2 seed is Summit County (18-4). Pueblo West, incidentally, is playing its first season in Class 4A. The Cyclones, who won the South-Central League and their district, are certainly the Cinderella of this tournament. The Panthers are the tourney favorite and every team will be gunning for them. According to Varsityonline, MCHS is ranked no. 3 and Pueblo West no. 9. Mullen is the top-ranked team.

It will be a round-robin format with the top two teams advancing to the Class 4A State Volleyball Championships in the Denver Coliseum Nov. 10-11.

"We will have to play very well and consistently if we are going to advance to State," MCHS head coach Lindy Mortensen said. "We sure would like to get back to Denver."

The Panthers tied for third place with Berthoud at last year’s tournament at Denver University. Fort Morgan won last year’s 4A title.

Trying to get back to Regionals are Panthers sophomore defensive specialist Merina Lippis, senior setter Emilie Lanier, senior middle blocker Andrea Derrick, sophomore outside hitter Stefanie Allison, junior outside hitter Casey Bauer, sophomore opposite Liz Dennison, sophomore defensive specialist Emily Harcelrode, junior outside hitter Ashley Swank, freshman middle Lindsey Wilson, freshman outside hitter Sasha Yarbrough, junior middle Colette Hall, and senior opposite Denise Newlin.

"(This week’s) practices have gone fine. We haven’t worked on anything special. We’ve just worked on our game," Mortensen said.

Today’s Regionals will get under way at 9 a.m. with Pueblo West taking on Summit County. MCHS will play Cheyenne Mountain at about 10:15. Pueblo West will battle Cheyenne Mountain at 11:30. The Panthers will play Summit County at 12:45 p.m. Summit County will play Cheyenne Mountain at 2 p.m. and MCHS will play Pueblo West at 3:15 which will complete round-robin play.

Several other schools around the state are playing at regional tournaments today in trying to earn a berth at State. The Region A Tournament, at Lewis-Palmer High School, features District II no. 1 seed Lewis-Palmer (19-5), District I no. 1 seed Conifer (21-2), District IV no. 2 seed Berthoud (17-3), and District VII no. 3 seed Rifle (17-7). The Region B Tournament, at Fort Morgan High School, pits District IV top seed Fort Morgan (20-3), District III top seed Broomfield (not available), District I no. 2 seed Evergreen (14-9), and District II no. 2 seed Pine Creek (18-6). The Region C Tournament, at Brighton High School, features District III no. 2 seed Brighton (15-9), District VI no. 1 seed Mullen (15-5), District V no. 2 seed Pueblo Centennial (10-10), and District VII no. 2 seed Steamboat Springs (21-3).

The other area team competing today is Mancos at the Class 2A Region C Tournament at Palisade High School, not at Telluride as was printed in the press release from the Colorado High School Activities Association. The Blue Jays, 7-12, will play West Grand (18-4) in the first game beginning at 9 a.m. They will not play again until they tangle with the host Miners (15-6) at 12:45 p.m. They play immediately following that game against Grand Valley (16-6) at about 2.

"We will go there and just try to do our best," MHS head coach Mona Shepherd commented. "I’m not putting any pressure on the kids. No one thought we would be here any way. Our key match will be our first one against West Grand. I think they are the team to beat. Grand Valley is beatable. And the odds are in our favorite that Telluride can’t beat us again. We played well against Telluride during the regular season."

Two of the top 10 teams will be competing in today’s Regionals at Palisade. West Grand is rated no. 5 and Grand Valley no. 10. The top team in Class 2A is Caliche.

Members of the Blue Jay team include Angela Hall, Alicia Show, Cassie Coppinger, Jolene Thomas, Katie Rosso, Amanda Liukko, Jori Yeomans, Rachel Russell, Katie Paxton, Lacey Morris, and Natasha Walton.