Del Norte tops Sargent for second win of season

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Sargent junior Kenzie Tolliver (15) fires into Charley Higham (4) and Payton Hogner (12) for the Del Norte defense during the interleague meeting last Thursday evening.

MONTE VISTA — Volleyball is already off to a furious pace. While football is looking to settle in for many of their first games this weekend, volleyball is already getting a feel for where they fit in within the state. Del Norte (2-3) is already five games into their season picking up win No. 2 over league rival Sargent (0-2) last Thursday night in a 3-1 match.  


Del Norte got a difficult draw to begin the season, falling to Hoehne (1-1) then going up a weight class to face 3A class Alamosa (2-0). The Tigers would follow that up with a triangular where they would get their first win against Monte Vista, knocking off the Pirates 3-0. All five of the Tiger’s contests have been on the road thus far.


Sargent didn’t have things any easier facing the likes of a talented Sangre de Cristo volleyball team (3-1) to start the season.


But records and reputations went out the window in the first set of the Del Norte-Sargent fray. The two teams began to test one another trading side-outs in a close game to a 4-3 score. The home team struck the first meaningful blow with a three-point run going up 7-3 which Del Norte answered with 3 of their own. The close game would continue until Sargent put up another cluster of points, a 7-point run that all but sealed the first set at 19-11. Sargent would then pace the visiting Tigers until junior Kenzie Tolliver closed things out for the home squad with a side-out to give the Farmers the first set 25-19.


Del Norte composed themselves after dropping the first set and would control the remainder of the match. Set two, the Tigers trailed to an 11-8 score before setting the tone ripping off 8 straight points to take the lead. Seeing the furious rally, Sargent’s sideline called a timeout to settle down their team. After the break, Del Norte tagged on another three completing an 11-point run.  Four points later and Del Norte junior Chloe McComas knocked home the clincher to even things at one set apiece.


The Tigers would dial in their game further in set number three, utilizing two streaks of five points to outrun the home team to a 25-9 finish setting the table for a match sealer in set No. 4.  


With their backs against the wall, Sargent would need to fight in the fourth set. But it was Del Norte pushing their advantage instead. The Tigers opened with a 5-point run. The Tigers would carry that advantage through the majority of the set to finish the match out at 25-18 giving the visitors a 3-1 win.