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Ignacio sophomore Shoshone Thompson (14) tries punching the ball over a Ridgway double-block during 2A-District 3 Tournament action, Oct. 31 at Dolores. RHS claimed that encounter in four games, and then swept IHS in three at 2A-Region G on Nov. 7.
Ignacio senior Ellie Seibel (12) hammers a kill down the line against Mancos at the 2A-District 3 Tournament, Oct. 31 at Dolores. Third place at the event, IHS swept the Lady Jays 3 games to 0, after falling in four to the hosting Lady Bears and before losing in four to Ridgway--who they'd face again starting 2A-Region G.
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
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‘G’ whiz: Spikers stopped at regionals

Friday - November 13, 2015 by Joel Priest | Special to the Drum

V’cats finish 15-9, just miss State

One could have said that too much Ridgway – especially this season – would be a bad thing.

But after having faced the Lady Demons for a fourth time, and losing for a third to get the 2A-Region G Tournament underway at RHS on Saturday, Nov. 7, Ignacio redoubled their collective effort in hopes of getting a fifth try at the girls in green later that afternoon with a trip to the 2015 State Championships at stake.

In the Volleycats’ way, however, was Paonia. And unfortunately the Lady Eagles refused to let IHS get much closer than their 25-20 loss in Game 3 versus Ridgway, sweeping Ignacio 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 and halting IHS’ exciting ride one weekend short of the Denver Coliseum.

Later victorious – by scores of 25-15, 25-13, 27-29, 25-21 – over RHS in the event’s championship, PHS left Ouray County having improved to 21-4 overall. Ridgway dipped to 22-2 and the ’Cats to a finalized 15-9 after having also lost 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 to their 2A/1A San Juan Basin League rivals.

Ignacio’s individual statistics had not yet been reported by press time.

Against the Volleycats, the Lady Demons got a 19-kill, 12-dig double-double from senior star Kaitlyn Rutherford, and a 9-kill, 16-dig near-miss from junior Saren Robinson. Senior Brynne Skalla had seven kills and four digs, and junior setter Ara Norwood an impressive 41 assists and six digs.

Paonia junior Emily Pieper just missed a triple-double with 13 assists, ten digs and eight kills against IHS, and senior Taylor Carsten distributed 16 assists to go with seven service aces. Junior McKenna Hartigan had nine kills – matching senior Ashley VanVleet – and 11 digs, while VanVleet totaled a team-high four blocks.

Runners-up at the 2A-District 5 Tournament a week prior to traveling to Ridgway, the Lady Eagles drew the #4 seed in the Nov. 13-14 State Championships’ initial pool-play Round of 12.

D-3 winners RHS (Ignacio had placed third, with the tourney held at Dolores) received a wild-card nod and a surprising 8-seed, joining No. 1 Loveland Resurrection Christian, No. 2 Yuma, No. Lyons, 5-seed Greeley Union Colony, 6-seed Limon, Nov. 7 Cedaredge, No.9 Rye, No.10 Colorado Springs School, No. 11 Kiowa, and 12-seed Fowler.

 

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