Squad secures three wins in three days
Powered by a statement-making sweep of 2A/1A San Juan Basin League force Mancos – inside MHS Gymnasium, and on the Lady Jays’ designated Senior Night, to boot – Ignacio High’s Volleycats entered two subsequent home matches in the next two days and exited with two more victories.
First to fall inside IHS Gymnasium, on Friday, Oct. 11, was Telluride. Another 2A-level SJBL side like MHS, the Lady Miners hung tough early but weakened late as the ’Cats prevailed 25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 25-15. Nucla then came calling the next afternoon but was quickly turned back as Ignacio rolled 25-16, 25-13, 25-9 – boosting the ’Cats up to 12-6 overall, 8-2 in all official SJBL action, and a vital 6-1 against its 2A members.
Sophomore Maliyah Martinez, one of the all-around heroes of Ignacio’s 25-19, 25-15, 25-18 triumph over Mancos, was credited with three kills against Nucla (4-13; 1-6 SJBL, 1-1 1A SJBL), as were sophomore Kelly Sirios and junior Juliann Avila. Seniors Marissa Olguin and Ollyvia Howe were each credited with two proper disposals, as was sophomore Lainee Bradley, as IHS’ deadliest work came from the service line.
Throwing the Lady Mustangs out of system almost at will, the ’Cats racked up 21 service aces. Howe smacked seven of them, while Olguin finished with five, sophomore Lily Quintana four and sophomore Tarah Baker three. Sirios ended up with ten assists and also came up with six digs – one more than Baker, but three less than Howe’s team-high.
In the longer-lasting clash with THS (9-8; 5-4 SJBL, 3-3 2A SJBL), offense was more abundant; Olguin, Sirios and Bradley were each credited with seven kills and Howe five as Sirios tallied 23 assists (Howe was even credited with three). Even more impressive, however, was Ignacio’s ace count against a strong opponent; Howe landed an outstanding eight unreturnable serves and Olguin seven as IHS totaled a reported 24.
Defensively Howe registered a team-high 17 digs, with Olguin (14) and Martinez (10) joining her in double digits. Quintana and Sirios each came up with nine and Baker eight.
“I go back to what Ignacio’s been solid on in years past: Ball control, being scrappy and just being tenacious on the court,” head coach Jennifer Seibel said. “We’ve got a lot of girls who fit that bill and just build on those skills, having that mindset of ‘Nothing’s going to touch the ground.’”
Ignacio will next host 1A SJBLers Ouray on Saturday, Oct. 19, to sew up Homecoming Week 2024. Results from the Volleycats’ home match on the 17th versus 3A Pagosa Springs were unavailable at press time.
“I’m glad to be getting into the meat of our season, playing league,” said Telluride head coach Lorrie Mahoney, her team scheduled to next play on the 15th at Norwood (6-11; 2-4 SJBL, 1-2 1A SJBL). “So even though our record isn’t what we want it to be, I don’t feel like that’s a reflection on how well we’ve been playing, and how good this team is.”