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Ignacio Volleyball recognized six seniors and their families prior to varsity play Saturday, Oct. 22, versus Ridgway inside IHS Gymnasium. From left: Sharmaine Price (JV), Ryley Webb (V/JV), Alex Forsythe (V), Lea Monroe (JV/V), Kelly Campbell (V), Jade Richards (JV).
With Ridgway’s Ara Norwood (9) in precarious proximity, Ignacio junior Avionne Gomez somehow rescues a ball from the net during the Volleycats’ Senior Day match on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Ignacio junior Allisianna Baker (16) sends a spike past the block of Ridgway’s Samantha Medina (10) during the Volleycats’ Senior Day match on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Ignacio senior Jade Richards receives a Senior Day gift and hug from head coach Thad Cano during player/parent recognition festivities Saturday, Oct. 22, inside IHS Gymnasium. Richards was one of six Cats saluted, along with fellow JV regular Sharmaine Price, JV/V swing players Lea Monroe and Ryley Webb, and varsity regulars Alex Forsythe and Kelly Campbell.
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
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Ridgway dims senior spikers’ shine

Friday - October 28, 2016 by Joel Priest | Special to the Drum

 

IHS falls 3-0 to ranked Lady Demons

While paying due tribute to six seniors suiting up for their final prep-level volleyball action inside IHS Gymnasium on Saturday, Oct. 22, the Volleycats unfortunately got a glimpse at the future of one of the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League’s top programs.

Dealt a healthy dose of freshman Emersyn Gentry as well as an expected amount of senior Saren Robinson, Ignacio held a lead only once – when Robinson hit long on the first exchange in Game 2 – before Game 3 when the spikers finally made a definite move to pressure circuit powerhouse Ridgway.

Ending a week which began with a 21-25, 15-25, 13-25 loss on the 18th to 2A Southern Peaks League force Del Norte (15-4 overall as of Monday, 10/24) and a 25-20, 25-14, 19-25, 25-22 win at SJBL stragglers Mancos on the 20th, IHS overcame an early 7-3 deficit in the third verse with RHS and go up 9-8 on a tricky serve by junior Allisianna Baker.

Classmate Avionne Gomez would soon regain Ignacio the lead at 10-9, and senior Alex Forsythe would do so at 13-12 with an ace after fellow senior Kelly Campbell downed a kill to even the count at a dozen each. Back and forth the sides would go, before the #8-ranked [CHSAANow.com Class 2A poll, issued 10/17] Lady Demons crept ahead 17-16 and took a two-point lead on a kill by junior Samantha Medina.

A Gomez serve-reception error and Robinson kill gave Ridgway (17-2, 13-1 SJBL) a crucial four-point lead, and the guests would complete their clinching 9-0 spree – securing a 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 sweep – with a Robinson smash, a roofing-the-set violation against Ignacio (7-12, 6-7), and an IHS net violation when Forsythe brushed the strings after Gentry’s serve.

Playing without teammates Shoshone Thompson and Morgan Herrera, and given setting duty over sophomore Heather Kerrigan, Forsythe finished with a team-high four kills with no errors in 15 attempts for a .267 percentage. As a group, however, Ignacio managed just a -.014 rate (12k/13e/69att) while Ridgway hit .197 (24k/11e/66att), led by Robinson’s 11 kills at .226 and Gentry’s seven at .150.

Robinson also had four aces and seven digs, while Medina came up with a match-best 14 and junior Hunter Gentry another 12. Baker had eight digs for IHS, with Gomez contributing five and Forsythe four to the defensive cause, which also counted an impressive seven total (four solo) Campbell blocks and three (one solo) by sophomore Misty Egger – given the front-line start in Herrera’s stead.

Up next for Ignacio will be the 2A-District 3 Tournament, Oct. 28-29 in Ridgway, with a 4 p.m. clash against Norwood (9-9, 8-5) up first on Day 1. The Volleycats and Lady Mavericks split their regular-season encounters with each defeating the other in four games, but NHS emerged a plus-8 in aggregate point differential.

The event’s first- and third-place teams will advance to 2A-Region G (with the first-place team hosting), and the second-place squad will travel to Region C. Winners of the eight regionals and four ‘wild cards’ will earn spots in the State Championships, Nov. 11-12 up in Denver.

 

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