The 2023 volleyball season got into full swing for Granada, Holly, Wiley, and McClave last week.
The Granada Lady Bobcats got things started with a home match against the 2A Holly Wildcats on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Granada swept the match by scores of 25-15, 25-20, and 25-21.
Emersen Hernandez fueled the hitting attack with 8 kills. TorLn Riddle followed with 7 kills and Kinsley Williams had 4.
Williams set the ball with 14 assists and Paula Aguirre had 11.
At the service line, Riddle, Marissa Valenzuela, and Hernandez all had 2 aces apiece.
On defense, Valenzuela led the way with 15 digs.
Jaleesa Rodriguez followed with 12 digs, Hernandez had 11, Dayzriana Quintana 8, Aguirre had 7 digs, and Williams with 5.
A full day of volleyball action took place in the Kit Carson Fall Fling on Saturday, Aug. 19th.
The tournament featured several teams in the CHSAA Class 1A preseason state volleyball rankings.
Simla was #4, Wiley was #6 and Kit Carson was #7.
In the Class 2A state poll, Wiggins was ranked #2.
Results from the tournament
Pool A results
Yuma defeated Wiley in five sets.
Wiggins defeated Yuma in three sets.
Wiggins defeated Wiley in three sets.
Pool B results
Kit Carson defeated Akron in three sets.
Simla defeated Akron in three sets.
Simla defeated Kit Carson in four sets.
In the championship match, Wiggins defeated Simla in three sets.
In the third place match, Yuma defeated Kit Carson in three sets.
In the fifth place match, Wiley defeated Akron in three sets.
The Class 1A No. 2 state-ranked McClave Cardinals opened their 2023 campaign with a match at Las Animas on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
The Cardinals took care of their Bent County rivals in a three-set sweep.
McClave won the first set 25-14 and won the second set 25-10.
In the third set, the Lady Cardinals trailed 13-8 at one point before they rallied from behind to earn a 25-19 victory.
The win marked the seventh straight victory for McClave against Las Animas.
Las Animas suffered its first loss of the early season after previous wins against Dolores Huerta and Ellicott.
Sophomore hitter Abrielle Gomez led the hitting attack for McClave with 11 kills. McKayla followed with 9 kills and Avery Hemphill added 6 kills.
Gomez also paced the Cardinals with 6 blocks and Kiniston had 4.
On defense, Ashlynn Steinbrunn had 12 digs, Hemphill followed with 8, Makayla Phillips had 6 digs and Gomez 5, and Emily Melgoza had 5.
At the service line, Melgoza had 4 ace serves and Steinbrunn and Kiniston both had 3 aces each.
