The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate volleyball team went 1-1 over the last week, falling to the Ignacio Bobcats before bringing home a win against the Monte Vista Pirates.
The games moved the team to a 3-14 record.
Pagosa’s Lady Pirates welcomed the Ignacio Bobcats to town on Oct. 16 for a nonleague matchup, with the Bobcats logging a 3-1 win.
The Pirates lost the first set by two, 25-23, and dropped the second set 25-19 before bouncing back for a 25-22 win in the third set. The Bobcats sealed their win with a 25-15 fourth set.
The Bobcats are now 17-3 and are the No. 12 team in Colorado 2A volleyball.
Pagosa had 41 kills against Ignacio, with Ignacio logging 39. The Lady Pirates were led in kills by Lexi Campbell and Dawson Iverson, who had 12 each, and Kaila Limebrook’s 11.
The Lady Pirates had six serving aces, with Amber Snarr picking up three and one each coming from Charity Domingo, Campbell and Limebrook. Ignacio had four.
The team had one total block, with Hayden Peterson and Limebrook each having an assisted block.
Pagosa also bested Ignacio in digs with 96, compared to Ignacio’s 91. Tatiana Monterroso picked up 20, Domingo and Campbell each had 18, Peterson had 14, and Snarr had 13.
Peterson had 33 of the team’s 34 assists.
Pagosa had 78 serve receptions, with 25 by Snarr, 17 by Campbell and 12 by Monterroso.
Then, on Tuesday, the Lady Pirates traveled to Monte Vista, where they picked up their first win since Sept. 11.
Pagosa won in four sets, dropping the first 25-23 before going on to win the next three: 25-20, 25-18 and 25-21.
Monte Vista is 10-5 on the season and the No. 22 team in Colorado 2A volleyball.
“Winning! We played so well,” coach Chelsea Caler wrote in an email to The SUN. “Our serve receive was on fire all night, we passed a team 2.1, which gave Hayden the opportunity to really run the offense, and she made smart, confident choices. Our hitters were aggressive, and we hit a season-high .248 as a team!”
The coach also highlighted the roles of several of Pagosa’s Lady Pirates in the wins.
“Lexi kept us steady, executing kills off serve receive, totaling 12 kills and 16 digs, earning a double-double, while Dawson kept us alive in out-of-system plays, also tallying 12 kills. Both middles were aggressive and exciting at the net, Kaila had 9 kills, and Avea [Bruce] added 8 kills and 3 block assists,” she wrote. “Lexi also added 1 solo block and 2 block assists, contributing to our team-high 9 total blocks.”
The team had 47 total kills, compared to Monte Vista’s 30.
Pagosa had 11 serving aces, compared to Monte Vista’s five. Domingo and Campbell led Pagosa with three each, with Bruce and Monterroso picking up two each, and Snarr having one.
“Defensively, we were scrappy and relentless,” the coach highlights. “Hayden not only dished out 33 assists but also added 13 digs for her own double-double. Amber chipped in 11 digs, and sophomore Sydney Plake stepped up big with 5 kills, hitting an impressive .556. I also want to highlight Charity and Tati for their hustle and grit, they were everywhere, chasing balls down and keeping plays alive.”
Caler also focused on the Lady Pirates’ play that can’t be tracked in the stats.
“What stood out most was how cohesive we played,” she wrote Wednesday. “Even when we were down, we showed mental toughness and composure. We locked in, focused point by point, and stayed connected. Last night felt like everything was clicking.”
Over the next week, the Lady Pirates will work to keep that momentum as they take on two of the 3A classification’s top-10 teams: Centauri and Bayfield.
This evening, Thursday, Sept. 23, the Lady Pirates will host the No. 7 Centauri Falcons for a rematch at Pagosa Springs High School.
The Lady Pirates lost to the Falcons 3-0 on Sept. 20, with the Falcons currently sporting a 14-8 record.
Then, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the Lady Pirates will travel to Bayfield for a rematch against the Wolverines, who defeated the Lady Pirates 3-0 on Sept. 16.
The Wolverines are the No. 5 team in 3A volleyball and own a 13-5 record.
The Lady Pirates are the No. 38 team in 3A volleyball.
Caler noted if the Lady Pirates can keep passing like they did against Monte Vista, their “offense can do big things.”
She adds, “We’re a different team than when Centauri and Bayfield last saw us, and we’re excited to keep this momentum rolling.”
randi@pagosasun.com
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