<\/p>\n
If one looks at the scores of last Saturday\u2019s volleyball triangular held at Montezuma-Cortez High School \u2013 a 22-25, 23-25, 13-25 loss to Bayfield, then a 12-25, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25 loss to Centauri \u2013 one can basically see what Joye McHenry saw.<\/p>\n
And thus, what has the Panthers\u2019 new skipper stoked entering the 2019 season\u2019s final weeks.<\/p>\n
The only question seems to be whether she can keep her squad\u2019s batteries fully charged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of the most intelligent volleyball-knowledge teams I\u2019ve had. They\u2019ve obviously had good coaches in the past,\u201d McHenry said this week. \u201cThey have a certain amount of volleyball knowledge that is impressive, and they have extremely athletic capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wrapping up an event that lasted nearly nine hours that included junior-varsity matches, three consecutive Avery Wright kills against Centauri from the left side and one from Myka Glover not only kept the Falcons honest late in the finale, it showed M-CHS can hang with the 3A Intermountain League\u2019s best.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith two top-ranked teams \u2026 I made a lot of changes in three days,\u201d said McHenry, who debuted as head coach at the triangular, after athletic director Dave Robinson helped guide the team to three-game sweeps of 5A Grand Junction Central, Pagosa Springs and 3A Olathe in the wake of Maddie Wright\u2019s departure. \u201cSo I was kind of curious to see the mental toughness of the girls and what they could handle with three days\u2019 worth of changes. I feel like they rocked it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Rock it they did, recording numbers McHenry and new assistant Caroline Glover, formerly the head coach at 2A Mancos, can\u2019t wait to see replicated as the regular season winds down beginning with Saturday afternoon\u2019s road match at Monte Vista.<\/p>\n
(The Panthers\u2019 Oct. 18 clash with Grand Junction has been rescheduled for Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Sophomore outside\/middle hitter Avery Wright finished the four-game test versus Centauri with a whopping 21-kill, 12-dig performance. Junior middle\/outside Myka Glover downed 17 kills, and floor-cleaning junior libero Amber Wood came up with 11 digs despite playing with an injured finger.<\/p>\n
\u201cCar door,\u201d McHenry quipped. \u201cHer finger\u2019s \u2026 quite the fright.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glover and Wright led the way offensively against Bayfield with nine and eight kills, respectively, and Wood finished with 10 digs. Totaling 62 assists (41 versus Centauri), junior setter Leigha Comisky also shone despite a wrapped left hand, requiring her to both toss and hit serves with her right. She also managed to pace M-CHS in digs versus Centauri with 16, while lone senior Malia Begay rotated in off the bench to rack up a vital 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think when you talk just natural athletic ability, Avery and Myka are definitely the leaders; they both are strong, skill-wise. But really, I\u2019m more impressed with the girls who\u2019ve had further to come,\u201d stated McHenry, \u201cwho\u2019ve had positions moved on them. They\u2019re the ones impressing me and giving me the most hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Standing 6-6 overall, 1-6 IML, Montezuma-Cortez will face a struggling Monte Vista crew that went into Thursday\u2019s non-league contest with Olathe (results were unavailable at press time) standing just 2-13 overall and 0-8 in league. M-CHS will then visit Pagosa Tuesday night, Oct. 22, and host Monte Vista two days later, hopefully with a healthy Devon McHenry, who sprained an ankle during the triangular, before welcoming Grand Junction.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now what we\u2019re working on is some timing issues, and working the setter on some new offensive plays we\u2019re trying to incorporate,\u201d McHenry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t over,\u201d she emphasized.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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