STEFANIE ALLISON, a junior outside hitter, was a standout last season for the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity volleyball team. She helped lead the Panthers to a berth in the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament last year in Denver. Allison, and seniors Casey Bauer and Colette Hall are the core of this year’s team.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Another trip to Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament in Denver is one goal for the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity volleyball team. Their ultimate goal is to win it.

The Panthers won the regular-season Southwestern League title and won the tournament. They then hosted the Region D Tournament and won it. They ventured on to Denver but had some troubles there but still called it a great season.

MCHS certainly has a great opportunity to get back into the State Tournament again this season with three outstanding players returning in senior outside hitter Casey Bauer, senior middle blocker Colette Hall, and junior outside hitter Stefanie Allison.

"We should have a pretty good team this year," MCHS head coach Lindy Mortensen remarked. "We have both our outsides and middle back. It is really nice to have an NCAA Division I (orally committed to Colorado State University) bound player in Casey and she has earned everything because she works so hard. Stefanie and Colette are both outstanding players. They are all great leaders on the court."

Cortez has very good height this year. Bauer stands 6-foot, Allison is 5-foot-10, sophomore opposite Lindsey Wilson is 5-10, Hall is 5-8, right side hitter sophomore Sasha Yarbrough is 5-8 and junior setter Emily Harclerode is the small one of the bunch at 5-4. Others on the team this year include 5-6 junior Merina Lippis, 5-6 sophomore Cassie Carver, 5-7 sophomore Courtnie Lanier, 6-0 sophomore Arista Petillo, 5-5 freshman Jessie Pickens, and 5-2 frosh Gina Franchini.

"I feel this year’s team is pretty well rounded. Of course our outside and middle is in great shape. The kids there can hit will on the right side. We have a first-year varsity setter but she is a hard worker and she put in a lot of time this past summer,"she said.

Mortensen feels the team is deep this year.

"If we have an injury, I can bring in almost any player off the bench and they can play any position. This is a hard working group. They all went to nearly every open gym and they didn’t miss any tournaments or 3-on-3 this summer," Mortensen reported.

If there is a weakness right now, it’s probably ball control.

"It always is ball control. If we can pass to the setter, we’ll be in good shape. But if our setter is moving all over the place (5-1 offense), then we will be in trouble. So, it’s ball control. I think we still need better floor coverage because I think they can get to the ball and they are not. At times our coverage is real good and at other times not so good. Of course, I don’t think it is ever good enough, but that’s me speaking as a coach. If we get real consistent on ball control on defense, we could be a solid team," she added.

"Durango is going to be solid because they are so athletic. We scrimmaged them the other day. Montrose is going to be good because they have quick kids. Central will be improved. I really don’t know too much about Fruita or Grand Junction. But I think it is a good schedule," she said.

The Panthers begin the season by visiting always tough AAA Pagosa Springs High School today, Aug. 30. The varsity game should get under way around 7 p.m. They host Aztec, N.M. at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, (changed from the original scheduled date of Sept. 1) in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. New on the schedule is the Eaglecrest Tournament in Denver all day on Sept. 8.

They open Southwest League play Sept. 14 at Montrose and then travel to Central of Grand Junction Sept. 15. The Panthers take a break from league play to compete all day in the Monument Valley High School Invitational in Kayenta, Ariz., Sept. 18. The Panthers host Durango on Sept. 25.

Pagosa comes to town for a return match on Oct. 2 and then it’s back to SWL play as the Panthers travel to Fruita Oct. 5 and Grand Junction High Oct. 6. Home dates against Central on Oct. 12 and Fruita Oct. 13 are on the schedule. A trip to Durango is on the slate Oct. 16. Home dates against Montrose and Grand Junction, Oct. 19-20, respectively round out the regular season.

Districts will be held at Cortez Oct. 26-27, Regionals is slated Nov. 3, and State in Denver Nov. 9-10.