The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate volleyball team is set to open its season this week in Grand Junction, with coach Katie Lorenzen indicating one of the team’s biggest strengths in opening the season is its camaraderie.
Practices started on Aug. 12, with the first week being tryouts.
“We had 42 girls try out ... which always is nice to see so much interest in volleyball,” Lorenzen said. “And, it’s the toughest job we coaches have to make cuts. It’s never fun, but we did get down to a nice number for our program.”
Lorenzen added it’s been a fun challenge to determine where the athletes fit best within the program.
“We’ve had so many discussions as coaches just figuring out where everyone fits, where we see their development happening over the years, and it’s been really fun that it’s actually been quite a challenge to determine who is on each team,” she said.
She added there are a relatively balanced number of girls in each grade within the program and that there has been a lot of interest in the program in the younger grades.
She noted it was fun to see during tryouts where the athletes are starting and how much potential they have.
Lorenzen also noted the team’s members really root for each other, which she indicated she sees as a strength.
“What we’ve seen so far that feels so good in the gym is, top to bottom, how much everyone is rooting for each other and excited for each other,” she said. “At our scrimmages this past Saturday there were ... numerous spectators who commented on how fun it was to watch these groups of girls that were having fun with each other and cheering each other on. That is, I think, probably our biggest strength right now.”
The coach also noted the team is younger this year, rebuilding after having a senior-heavy team last season.
“We definitely have things we are going to work on,” she noted. “You know, ... we were replacing a very senior-heavy team that was also very experienced, and so we’ve got a few younger girls out there on varsity for the first time. But it’s really fun to see them, the younger girls, step up and want to fill those shoes, want to be better and better, and everyone around them just cheering them on.”
The team will set to open its season on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 24, at the Demon Invitational in Grand Junction.
At that tournament, the Lady Pirates are set to face 4A Glenwood Springs at 5 p.m. on Friday and 2A Meeker at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“I think it’s gonna be great to see this full group now after a week of real practice together playing against teams playing real matches,” Lorenzen said, explaining not everyone was present the whole day at the scrimmages. “So, I think it’s going to be fun seeing our whole group together against other teams that we haven’t seen before.”
She continued, “And, we are working on a number of little things, specifically our service passing and blocking, and I think as we get stronger in those areas it’s gonna make a world of difference for us. But, still, what I see as being so exciting is just how much the team is excited for each other, cheering for each other, putting in the work and having fun.”
The Pirates went 10-15 on the season last year and 3-5 in Intermountain League play. They fell out of contention at regionals.
Schedule
The following schedule was accurate as of press time, but is subject to change.
Following the Demon Invitational, the Lady Pirates will again be on the road on Aug. 27 to take on the Dolores Bears at 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Pirates will host the Alamosa Mean Moose for their first home match of the year at 6 p.m. on Sept. 5.
On Sept. 7, the Pirates will host the Telluride Miners at 3 p.m.
The Lady Pirates will again be on the road on Sept. 12, this time to take on the Del Norte Tigers at 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Pirates will return to their home court on Sept. 14 for a 1 p.m. affair with the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers.
On Sept. 17, the Lady Pirates will take on the Bayfield Wolverines in Bayfield at 6:15 p.m.
On Sept. 21, the Lady Pirates will host the Centauri Falcons at 1 p.m.
The team will be back in action at home on Sept. 24 against the Kirtland Central Broncos.
The Lady Pirates will head to Cortez on Oct. 1 to take on the Panthers at 6:30 p.m.
The team will then head to Alamosa on Oct. 5 to take on the Mean Moose at 1 p.m.
On Oct. 8, the team will take on the Durango Demons at 6 p.m. in Durango.
The Lady Pirates will host the Wolverines on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.
On Oct. 17, the team will head to Ignacio to take on the Bobcats at 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Pirates will head to La Jara on Oct. 19 for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Falcons.
The team will take on the 2A Monte Vista Pirates at home at 6 p.m. on Oct. 22.
The Lady Pirates will close out their regular season at the Coal Ridge Tournament on Nov. 1 and 2.
randi@pagosasun.com
>