Volleycats host, conquer Region 10 tourney

Junior middle hitter Alleah Neil would probably be quick to tell you that she didn’t get all of her last attack Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7, inside IHS Gymnasium. But she got enough of it, to both eliminate Ault-based Highland from the Class 2A-Region X (10) Tournament and propel Ignacio into the next weekend’s 2026 CHSAA State Championships.

Having shaken off a most-shaky first set and then ousted Colorado Springs St. Mary’s in the day’s opening 10 a.m. match, the Volleycats followed up that 27-25, 25-16, 25-10 sweep with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 sweep of HHS.

“They had to fight,” admitted IHS head coach Jennifer Seibel. “I think they were surprised of the fight that they had to give, but … the postseason, nothing comes easy. If you want it, you have to take it – and that’s fun volleyball! That’s quality volleyball, back and forth, and that’s what we’re going to see.”

“I see these girls every day at practice, so I know how well they’ve been working and how hard. So it’s great to see it pay off in games,” senior libero/defensive specialist Tarah Baker said. “I think we have a lot of potential and are just now showcasing it. This team … we can do it, and I’m so excited to go further.”

“It’s just really cool, and … even more special since we’ve all played together for so long,” said senior outside hitter Lainee Bradley. “We have a really good connection, we all trust each other and I think that’s a really important thing with making it this far. If you don’t have that, you’re done.”

Seeded 15th in the State Tournament’s opening Round-of-36, a series of 12 three-team regionals, Highland (16-9 overall) went into the test against the event-hosting ’Cats nice and warmed up after eliminating No. 27 SMHS (14-11) by scores of 25-18, 18-25, 25-10 and 25-15 in the second match – which was no small feat; the Lady Pirates had arrived having won nine of 14 matches during a busy October postseason push.

“We knew they were good,” said St. Mary’s junior setter Miley Carter, speaking of not only HHS but also Ignacio, “so we raised our standards, tried our best and fought. Everyone was a little tired – it was a really long bus ride – and then some of us just started getting in our heads. It’s been a long season, but I want everyone to keep fighting and keep pushing – I’m so, so proud of us for making it this far.”

“We were really just pushing, going for every ball,” SMHS junior defensive specialist Kenley Arnold said, an ice bag draped over a right forearm injured against HHS. “Wanting to make it to State’s really good motivation; that’s always in the back of my head during rallies. Like, I’m going to push for this point so I get a closer shot at State! That’s what we really did today.”

No. 10 Ignacio never permitted Highland to gain the upper hand until senior middle Madi Smith placed a tip shot in the far corner, earning the designated visitors a brief 10-9 edge in Set 2 after they’d come as close as 22-22 in Set 1. But after a quick swapping of points during the next seven exchanges, IHS went up 14-13 and expanded the regained lead to 18-13 via back-to-back Lily Quintana service aces.

The Lady Huskies would get closer than four points just once more, via senior setter Leah Vara’s kill closing the gap to 22-19. But senior Jordan Taylor then served long over Baker’s head, and HHS head coach Shelby Rusch – who’d completed her college career playing three seasons, including the 2025 campaign, at NCAA Div. II Cameron (Lawton, Okla.) University – alertly called a timeout. But to no avail; Baker then coldly fired an ace off Taylor’s arms, and senior Reggi Gustafson followed with a kill clinching the Volleycats a two-set lead in the finale.

Backed up against the proverbial wall, Highland dashed out to a 3-0 lead in Set 3, and also had leads of 4-3, 5-4 and 6-5 before Ignacio began gaining momentum and eventually went up 10-8 via senior outside hitter Maliyah Martinez’s bomb breaking through HHS senior Billie Mick’s block.

Highland regrouped, however, and soon retook a 12-11 lead – their last, as it soon turned out. Unable to block HHS junior Malia Boudreau’s kill on the previous point, Neil answered with a crushing kill to the deep corner and Baker followed with an ace. Rusch used a timeout, but Bradley promptly downed a kill. Trailing 16-13, the Lady Huskies would get no closer than 16-15 before Neil terminated a Kelly Sirios set to bring up match point, 24-17.

Hoping to replicate fellow reserve McKayla Red’s four-point service stay which ultimately subdued St. Mary’s, junior Amira Montoya’s third straight serve after getting the ball at 22-17 couldn’t clear the net, giving Highland one last chance. Vara then scored with a Sirios-like set dump, and junior Sophia Martinez rolled a kill off a diving Montoya, but after senior DS/OH Ryleigh Wares’ next serve went up, there was little question to whom the ’Cats would turn.

“That’s been one of our mottos: Attack the process, and never give up. Because you never know what could happen – it’s volleyball!” said HHS senior middle Isabella Tiley. “Like with everything, there’s so many different parts but anything could happen, no matter how high-seeded or low-seeded you are. And it was very exciting; all the nerves were there and it was like ‘I might as well give it everything I have!’”

“Honestly, playing hard teams even when you lose is beneficial. When we lose, we learn something, we gain something, and it doesn’t hurt us,” Sophia Martinez said, looking to the ’27 season. “We really, like, just put a hundred percent into the season. It didn’t turn out how we wanted, but … we’ve grown to be a good family over the time we’ve played together.”

Having improved to 19-4 overall, Ignacio was to next travel to the Mile High City and begin work inside the Denver Coliseum on Thursday, November 12, against – ironically – 2A/1A San Juan Basin rival Dolores (23-2), which had hosted and won Region VII. The winner was to then face Merino (20-5) later that day; the loser would have to wait until the 13th to play again.

“Really practicing how we play is something that’s super-important; we always try and keep the intensity, but we’re trying to stay humble and level-headed,” said Baker.

“I mean, there’s always room for improvement,” Bradley said. “I know that we can give even more.”