Invading IHS Gymnasium the morning after a season-opening sweep at home of 5A Bloomfield, N.M., #10-ranked [CHSAANow.com Class 3A preseason poll] Pagosa Springs made relatively short work of a reworked Ignacio on Saturday, August 26.

Taking the court, unfortunately lacking varsity regulars: Avionne Gomez, Morgan Herrera, Allisianna Marquez-Baker and Leela Rosa, IHS – an ‘Others Receiving Votes’ team in the initial 2A rankings – dropped its first outing of 2017 by scores of 25-10, 25-9 and 25-12.

Sophomore Makayla Howell managed to put down three kills and hit .300 in defeat, but only junior Kiana Valdez managed at least one in support for the Volleycats (0-1 overall), who broke in several new faces during the contest including Marisa Carmenoros, Ebonee Gomez, Charlize Valdez and Caitlyn Mulcahy.

Back in action at setter, senior Shoshone Thompson managed to record just three assists while defensively, Howell totaled two solo blocks and came up with three digs – matched by both Mulcahy, a senior newcomer, and returning junior Misty Egger-Morris.

The Lady Pirates (2-0, 0-0 3A Intermountain), meanwhile, got six kills on .462 hitting from senior Morgan Lewis, while senior Faith Ahlhardt smacked down eight at a more impressive .533 clip. In addition to coming up with seven digs – equaled by senior Keena Murphy – she also fired a team-best seven aces while Lewis landed three.

Sophomore setter Teagan Stretton registered 11 assists in the victory, while Lewis logged seven.

Up next for IHS will be a Sept. 7 home match – the squad’s first in 2A/1A San Juan Basin League play – against Dove Creek, with junior-varsity action scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. and varsity to follow. A SJBL triangular then follows on the 9th, with both Norwood and Telluride coming to town.

Off to a 2-0 start as of Monday, Aug. 28, via sweeps of 1A De Beque and 2A Grand Junction Caprock Academy, DCHS will have traveled to De Beque for a 9/1 rematch with the Lady Dragons prior to visiting Ignacio.