Monticello volleyball team splits games

The Monticello Lady Bucks beat Region 23 foe Green River in three sets Tuesday, September 7, but the Lady Pirates didn’t roll over easy. The Lady Bucks got out in front and stayed there in the first set.

Abi Christensen got an ace serve to rally the home crowd. Sophomore Shayla Pehrson got kills in the middle with perfect assists from Christensen. Taylor Lewis got a nice kill on a tight angle.

The Bucks dominated by blocking at the net and setting it up for kills against the scrappy Pirates to take the first set definitively 25 to 12.

The Lady Pirates came back strong in the second set, matching the Bucks point for point. Junior Abby Erwin got strong kills in the middle for Green River.

The Bucks were up by five at one point, but the Pirates fought back to come within one when Coach Kelli Keyes called a timeout for the home team.

Pirate Senior Selene Mendez blocked the Bucks in the middle. The Pirates pulled ahead by two and Keyes called another timeout to try to stem the tide.

The Pirates were sitting at game point 24-21 when a service error sent it back to the Bucks 24-22. Junior Rosy Beh served an ace to get the Bucks within one.

A strong volley on both sides saw two kill attempts each ending with Pehrson killing in the middle with a slam, 24 all. A hit going out on the visitors’ side sent it back to Green River advantage, 25-24.

Safe volleys saw the Pirates make the same error, 25-25. Monticello service error, 26-25 for the Pirates, another game point attempt.

Smooth as glass, serve receive from Lady Buck senior Jessi Slack, set to the middle by Christensen to end in a kill by Senior Saydi Young, Erwin missing the block, 26-26.

A strong serve by Taylor Barry resulted in both teams volleying without much offense, then Erwin attempted a kill in the middle but sent it into the net – 27-26 Monticello.

A nice set from Barry put Young in position to kill, she sent it to the floor, and the Buckaroos won 28-26.

The third set saw Monticello up by as much as seven, but Green River didn’t give up. Receiving errors let them tie it 23-23.

Service errors on both sides sent it to 24 all. Then the Bucks hit it in the net, 25-24, game point Pirates. Lewis tipped it to the middle and Green River sent it out, 25 all.

Back and forth brought another game point opportunity for the Pirates 29 to 28. A perfect serve receive from Nielson, set by Christensen, tip in the middle by Young, and the Pirates sent it out of bounds, 29 all.

A jump serve is successful for Taylor Barry. A lift error is called on the Pirates, game point Bucks. Another jump serve, Pirates set Erwin in the middle and the team of Ali Barry and Kylie Rogers block it to the floor. The crowd roars to their feet. A long-played victory for the Buckaroos, 31-29.

Following the win over Green River, the Lady Buckaroos headed to Dove Creek on Thursday, September 9 to play the rival Lady Bulldogs.

Dove Creek had bested the Bucks in their previous match this year in three straight. The Bucks came out fighting with good, consistent serves from Taylor Lewis, Abi Christensen, and Jade Nielson.

In the first set, the Bucks succeeded in beating the home team, 25-22. But Dove Creek hitters senior Shania Kibel, junior Trista Barnett, and sophomore Kylie Gatlin put it to the Bucks in the second, winning 25-22. Errors on the Buckaroo side let the third slide 25-17.

The Buckaroos roared back for a decisive win in the fourth 25-16. Shayla Pehrson continued to win in the middle, blocking and killing. Ali Barry also had a lot of success on the kill wherever she was set.

Taylor Barry and Rosy Beh served consistently for the Bucks, but the home team had more energy and drive in the fifth set, winning 15-9.

Following the split, Monticello is 4-9, ranked #14 in the first 1A RPI standings, released by the Utah High School Activities Association this week.

The Lady Bucks rematched the rival San Juan Lady Broncos in Blanding on Tuesday, September 14. They’ll head to Price to take on Pinnacle in a Region 23 showdown this Thursday, September 16.

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