The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate volleyball team took an unexpected hiatus from competing over the last week due to flooding in the area and the cancellation of school and related activities Tuesday.
Instead of taking on the Bayfield Wolverines in Bayfield on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the team will now travel for the game on Oct. 28.
But, according to coach Chelsea Caler, the unexpected break wasn’t a bad thing.
“Even though the floods forced an unexpected break this week, I think it’s actually given us a chance to rest and reset before the final stretch of the regular season,” she wrote in an email to The SUN.
The Lady Pirates last played on Oct. 7, and since then Caler indicates the team has had good practices.
“Last week’s practices were great,” Caler wrote. “Since we didn’t get in the gym this week, I’m grateful we had that time to really focus on individual skill development and progressions - hitting, blocking, and defensive.”
Caler explains the team worked to keep up its skills and momentum with scrimmages.
“We also scrimmaged a lot and it was highly competitive, with great energy and solid ball,” she wrote. “We were able to work in a few of our younger players too, who stepped up and brought a fun presence. I’m also really thankful for my coaching staff, we jump in and play when there’s gaps to fill, to keep practices sharp.”
Next up for the Lady Pirates will be a pair of nonleague matches against Ignacio and Monte Vista.
The Lady Pirates will host the 2A Ignacio Bobcats at 6 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 16, at Pagosa Springs High School.
The Bobcats are the No. 10 team in 2A Colorado volleyball and own a 13-3 record.
The Bobcats are 3-1 against opponents in common with the Lady Pirates, while the Lady Pirates are 1-3 against those common opponents — Montezuma-Cortez, Del Norte and Telluride.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Lady Pirates will travel to Monte Vista to take on that town’s Pirates, with the game set to begin at 6 p.m.
Monte Vista is 9-4 on the season and is the No. 22 team in 2A.
Both Pirate teams have lost to Sanford this season.
Pagosa’s Lady Pirates are 2-13 on the year and are the No. 39 team in 3A.
“We’ve been showing improvement every time we step on the court. The girls are really buying into the new defense and playing with more confidence, especially when hitting aggressively on out-of-system plays,” Caler wrote. “Against Ignacio and Monte Vista, I’m hoping to see us run some combo plays and execute a faster offense, and hopefully snag a W or two in the process.”
randi@pagosasun.com
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