IHS travels to Telluride, prevails 3-1
Fired up to have gotten at least one match victory – a five-gamer over Littleton-based Front Range Christian – at the highly-competitive Denver Christian Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 7, Ignacio Volleyball head coach Jennifer Seibel knew her varsity could gain just as much from losses to DCHS as well as the beast of Colorado’s northeast: Sedgwick County, last season’s CHSAA Class 2A State Runner-up and State Champion in both 2021 and ’22 (as well as Runner-up during the COVID-delayed Spring ’21 season).
“Front Range … Sedgwick County, their competition – it’s probably more intense than what we’re seeing,” Seibel said. “The reps that they have up there are the real deal.”
Not that IHS’ normal opposition can’t also put up a scrap – something the Volleycats had to remember when traveling bright and early on the 14th to resume 2A/1A San Juan Basin League work at Telluride. Featuring good front-row height in players like junior Delia Noel, senior Fianna Ahern and junior Tori Saunders, plus a setter system (junior Lillyann Mahoney, sophomore Ella Metheny) not too dissimilar from Ignacio’s (sophomore Kelly Sirios, sophomore Lainee Bradley), the Lady Miners were ready to defend their home court and took Game 1 25-23.
The ’Cats responded in Game 2, winning 25-19, and then put THS’ backs up against the proverbial wall by taking Game 3 25-15. And in Game 4 Telluride fared better, but the guests still managed a 25-18 win, sewing up a 3-1 win inside the MinerDome and improving to 5-4 overall, 3-1 in overall SJBL action, and 3-1 against the league’s 2A members.
Senior Ollyvia Howe was IHS’ energizer offensively, totaling 12 kills at a .171 clip. Used mainly as an attacker rather than a distributor, Bradley downed 11 at a .235 rate as Sirios totaled 27 assists (plus five kills). Senior Marissa Olguin downed six kills and junior Juliann Avila four to go along with her three solo blocks.
Defensively in the contest – formerly slated for a 6 p.m. start inside IHS Gymnasium – Howe was credited with 24 digs and Sirios a team-high 27. Olguin came up with 15, and sophomore Lily Quintana, who returned from injury to active duty at the Invitational, joined them in double figures with 11.
“Lily, our libero, she’s really great at getting into a split in the block,” Seibel explained. “She sits in that split and has a lot of good touches, good passes from that.”
Ignacio’s a good team, and there were a lot of long, good rallies – which I think is a testament to the skill level of both teams, Telluride and Ignacio,” THS head coach, Lorrie Mahoney said. “And it just unfortunately didn’t swing our way, but I thought our girls fought well.”
Individual statistics for Telluride (2-6; 2-2 SJBL, 1-1 2A SJBL) were not immediately available.
Ignacio will next see action Saturday, Sept. 21, with a major SJBL test at 1A Dove Creek. Action is slated to start at 11 a.m. Results from Senior/Parent Appreciation Night play on the 19th against 1A Norwood were unavailable at press time.
2024 DCHS INVITATIONAL RESULTS (tourney match record; games won:lost):
- Sedgwick County (3-0; 9:0); 2. Strasburg (2-1; 6:3); 3. Denver Christian (1-1; 3:3); 4. IGNACIO (1-2; 3:8); 5. Front Range Christian (2-1; 8:3); 6. Buena Vista (0-2; 0:6); 7. Vail Mountain (0-2; 0:6). NOTE: Some teams played only two matches in the eight-team bracket, due to Loveland Classical Academy’s advance withdrawal from the event.
IGNACIO RESULTS:
First round – WIN 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 23-25, 17-15 over Front Range Christian; Semifinals – Lose 12-25, 17-25, 12-25 to Sedgwick County; Third-place match – Lose 20-25, 17-25, 17-25 to Denver Christian.