Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Logan’s volleyball team prevailed 25-20, 25-17, 25-12 over much-improved district rival San Jon on Saturday.
The Lady Longhorns, with a 13-6 record overall, are ensconced in second place in rugged District 6 with a 4-3 mark. Melrose and Fort Sumner, both unbeaten in league play, will fight it out for the title in the next week and a half.
“We played a good match largely due to cutting down on our unforced errors,” Logan coach Robert Young said of his team’s victory.
San Jon coach Jaree Elliott said her squad held brief leads in each set.
“But we doubted ourselves very much as individuals and as a team, and we lost the leads each time,” she said after the match. “We missed way too many serves in the first set, giving them six points. We got beat by five, so that explains that.
“We missed serves in the next two sets as well, but we just didn’t play our system or our kind of volleyball that we have been as a team. It was easy to see the youth in our team mentally today, but that’s just part of having a young team. Just hoping to grow and learn from it.”
San Jon ended the week 9-9 and 2-5 in district play. The Lady Coyotes were winless the previous season.
Logan 3, Clovis Christian 0
The Lady Longhorns captured a relatively easy road win with a 25-14, 25-10, 25-15 decision Thursday at district foe Clovis Christian.
“We played somewhat better at times,” Young said. “I thought our underclassmen showed improvements. We still are struggling with consistency on our serves and serve receive.”
Young also said senior Rilee Nials, one of his team’s top hitters, played her first full match after being sidelined with a groin injury several weeks ago.
“She looked to be moving around (the) court much better and faster,” he said.
Clovis Christian ended the week 3-12, 0-6.
Melrose 3, San Jon 0
No. 1-ranked Melrose extended its unbeaten campaign with a 25-18, 25-12, 25-12 district victory Friday at San Jon.
“We jumped out to an early lead in the first set of five or six points,” Elliott said. “But then we let the momentum shift back their way. We battled hard but couldn’t get that set. “The next two sets, we did a lot of good things, but they never came together. The girls seemed to doubt themselves more than they have since very early in the season.”
Karlee Elliott knocked down crucial kills for the Lady Coyotes, and coach Elliott said Sarah Archuleta and Chantzee Elliott made big blocks against all-state hitter Jayda Brittenum.
“My girls got a lot of touches on her hits and slowed them down, which helps a bunch,” she said. Elliott also praised the play of Addie Lafferty, Charmaynn Hall, Dakota Fisher and Perlita Ramirez.
Melrose, the defending champion in Class 1A, ended the week with a 17-0 record overall.