Panthers, Jays win big tournaments

Panthers, Jays win big tournaments

September 11, 2001

STAFF REPORT

AURORA - The Class 4A no. 3 ranked Panther Volleyball team traveled to Aurora on Saturday to compete in the Eaglecrest Invitational Tournament and left for Cortez with the tournament title.

A total of 12 teams battled for the championship.

Pool play started with Montezuma-Cortez High School taking on strong Lewis-Palmer. Lewis-Palmer jumped to an early lead 9-1 before the Panthers started the climb. Colette Hall served for three points with Casey Bauer making a nice block to bring it to 11-11. Bauer made another block and an ace then Stefanie Allison hammered one to end it at 15-11. Game two saw the Panthers open up with a 7-2 lead, Sasha Yarbough served six points (one ace) and the Panthers were up 13-2. Allison had another game ending kill for the final 15-4.

Match two of the pool play saw Cortez meeting Loveland- Loveland surprised the Panthers with a 9-0 lead before the Panthers untracked. Behind the setting of Emily Harclerode and kills from Allison and Bauer they inched back to an 11-11 tie. After several side outs the Panthers jumped to a 15-4 victory on another Allison kill. Game two with Loveland started with Cortez out to a 7-2 lead, Loveland would not die and came back to 8-7, and the teams battled back and forth with Loveland jumping out in front 13-11. Lindsey Wilson made a great save off the block and the Panthers rallied to 14-14 tie. Allison slammed a couple of kills for a 17-15 victory.

Match three of the Pool play was Cortez versus Manitou Springs. Manitou jumped to an early 10-3 lead. Before Cortez could get it going the score was 15-4. Game two Manitou and Cortez battled back and forth 3-6, 6-8, 10-8, 11-11. The game went to 14-14 , Cortez took command to win 16-14. In Game 3 the Panthers led all the way. Manitou made sveral errors and the Panthers won easily 15-6.

The pool play seeded MCHS in the championship bracket. Match one was against Roosevelt and behind some great serving from Hall and Wilson the Panthers won a toughie, 16-14. In the second game, it was evident that the Panthers came to play, winning 15-6. Cortez earned its way to the championship game against Class 5A no. 3 ranked Grandview. The Panthers took the challenge seriously with Allison serving five unanswered points. Cortez scored one more before Grandview decided to regroup. Yarbough, Allison, and Bauer pounded out numerous kills to put the Panthers up 12-0. Grandview took another time out. The Panthers would not be denied and won easily 15-1. In Game two Grandview adjusted the lineup but Cortez had too much momentum. Allison, Harclrode each served aces and the Panther were up 6-0. Wilson, Allison, and Bauer put the ball on the court to lead 10-4. Grandview fought back to 14-8 before Bauer put it away for the 15-8 win.

Class 3A Roosevelt beat 3A No. 5 Manitou Springs in the third-place match 15-12, 15-8. In the fifth-place match, 4A Pine Creek defeated 4A Windsor 15-11, 15-7.

Mancos captured its own Lady Jay Invitational for the first time ever on Saturday afternoon in the Mancos Performance Center.

After knocking off Mancos in pool play during the Lady Jay Volleyball Tournament, the Jays turned the tables and beat AAA Bayfield 15-11, 18-16 loss.

MHS faced Navajo Prep JVs (Farmington) and won easily 15-1, 15-4 in the first game of pool play. In game no. 2, the Jays beat a good Monticello, Utah, team 16-14, 15-11. The Wolverines beat the Jays 15-11, 7-15, 5-15.

In the tourney portion of the event, Mancos took on Monticello again and won 15-1, 16-14. However, that game came at a price as starting setter Lacy Morris injured her hand again. Cassie Coppinger stepped in and did a good job. The Jays then beat Bayfield in the finals.

MHS head coach Mona Shepherd was pleased with the play of middle blockers Rachel Russell and Katie Paxton. She thought Jori Yeomans and Katie Rosso hit well. She was pleased with the overall play of Angela Hall. Shephers said Jolene Thomas and Amy Smith also had a good day.

FARMINGTON - Monument Valley High School from Kayenta, a AA powerhouse in Arizona, crushed Kirtland-Central in three sets to win the championship of the two-day Farmington High School Invitational.

Monument Valley was so dominant that it dropped just one game over the two-day tournament. In the final, a combination of high-velocity serves and stifling blocks left Kirtland looking, 15-1, 15-6, 15-4. K-C, which entered the title game unbeaten on the season, just struggled the whole day against Monument Valley.

Dolores took on Piedra Vista, Shiprock and Gallup in the pool play of the tourney. Dolores and Gallup pushed 11-5, 5-11. During pool play, the Bears had 19 points against and Gallup 18. That shoved Dolores into the battle for third place in the tourney. They beat FHS JVs 15-5, 15-9 and 17-16 (17-point cap, best of three). The Bears lost to San Juan High (Blanding, Utah) 7-15, 17-15, 10-15, 6-15. Dolores then beat Ignacio 17-15, 15-1, 15-10 to finish in third place in the bottom bracket.

The Bears travel to Dove Creek at about 6:30 p.m. today, Sept. 11, to face Dolores County in the San Juan Basin League season opener for both teams.