With three of their first four matches on friendly flooring, and three of those four against teams which finished grossly under .500, and three of those first four coming against 2A/1A San Juan Basin League opposition, Ignacio Volleyball could sprint right out of the proverbial gate and gain speed for another postseason rush.
Minus multiple seniors essential to last year's 15-9 varsity record and 2A regional tournament appearance, 2016 won't be the easiest of times. But with just as many regulars still eligible to return, IHS should cause plenty of ruckus, and that will be right away on Aug. 30 inside IHS Gymnasium versus Montezuma-Cortez.
The Panthers finished just 4-18 overall and 1-9 in the 4A/5A Southwestern during a ragged 2015, in which head coach and former standout Andi Pickens was let go and assistant Jaynee Crockett finished out the slate.
Beginning with C-team play, first serve against M-CHS goes up at 4 p.m.
Up next for Ignacio will be a trip to Dove Creek, beginning SJBL play at 4 p.m. on Sept. 8. The Bulldogs struggled even more in '15, finishing 3-18 overall and 2-11 in all league matches before going 0-2 in the 1A district tournament to mercifully end the campaign.
Always up to clash with the 'Cats, even in a trying season, Telluride comes calling on Sept. 10. Under longtime coach Fawnda Rogers, THS went 6-14 overall, 5-10 against the SJBL before falling to Mancos in 2A-District 3's play-in match. Start time for the day's battles is 11 a.m.
The first solid test for Thad Cano's girls is slated for Sept. 15 when Dolores rolls into town for a 4 p.m. start. Gina Hollen's Bears finished 11-12 in 2015, but advanced to the 2A regional tournament where they were swept by both Kremmling West Grand and Cedaredge. Against league opposition, Dolores broke even at 7-7.
With numerous players electing to play club-level ball last winter rather than suit up for the hoops team, Ridgway should again be a force even without graduated bomber Kaitlyn Rutherford.
The Demons will welcome IHS and Ouray for a Sept. 17 SJBL triangular beginning at 11 a.m.
Putting even more miles on the team bus, Ignacio then travels to Nucla on the 20th. And after a Sept. 22 visit from Mancos, the Volleycats will quickly pack again for the long haul east to Elbert County and try to defend their Simla Invitational title on Sept. 24.
October 2016 gets underway with an 11 a.m. visit from SJBL 1A power Norwood on the 1st, and a shorter - but still quite long - trip east on Oct. 4 to face Centauri in La Jara.
Under Bayfield alumna Candace Shaw, Centauri finished 14-10 overall and 2-6 in the 3A Intermountain.
Among other key dates on the slate before the Oct. 22 regular-season finale at home versus Ridgway is a 4 p.m. visit from Del Norte on Oct. 18.
From the Southern Peaks League, the Tigers went 14-11 overall under Tamara Creel in 2015, 3-2 in the postseason.
After a four-game defeat of Las Animas in the 2A-Region A Tournament semis, they were denied a trip to state, 3-zip in the finale by Rye.
