Yuma High School’s volleyball team will attempt to stay above .500 with several matches later this week.
The Outlaws are 4-5 after losing in four sets to Caliche at home on Tuesday of this week. They play at Brush on Friday before playing in the Akron Tournament on Saturday. They then host undefeated Merino on Tuesday, October 1.
They are in Pool B in the Akron Tournament, playing Holyoke at 9 a.m., followed immediately with a match against Class 1A No. 1 Stratton. Otis, Akron and McClave are in Pool A. After pool play is completed, there will be a fifth-place match, followed by third place and then the championship.
“The Akron Tournament will be a great challenge for us,” coach Jamie Nighswonger said. “…they will be three tough matches either way. Looking forward to some great volleyball.”
Yuma entered this week with a 4-4 record.
“I am so happy with how the team is coming along,” coach Jamie Nighswonger said. “We are 4-4 right now, and all four of our losses were close, hard-fought matches that really could have gone either way. I think the girls are getting better at trusting their teammates and working together.”
The Outlaws opened Lower Platte play earlier last week with a 3-0 win at Akron, 26-24, 25-19, 25-20.
Alina Moran had 10 kills, Berkley Nighswonger 10, Lauren Gonzales nine, Taryn Sheffield five, Aubrey Black two and Bailey Nighswonger two. Black led in setting assists with 22. Yuma had one of its better serving efforts at 92 percent. Bailey Nighswonger was 16-17 with two aces, Moran 12-13 with two aces, Black 11-12 with one ace, Sheffield 7-8, Berkley Nighswonger 6-8, Carolina Ross 6-6, Gonzales 6-6, Jade Lungwitz 2-2, Mariana Reyes 2-2, and Chloe Smith 1-1.
“Akron was a great win,” Nighswonger said. “We hit some rough spots, but for the most part, were able to control the match and take care of business.”
The Outlaws traveled to Arvada last Friday to play Class 3A Forge Christian.
They pulled out an exciting 26-24 win in the first set, but lost the second 12-25. The third set went extra points like the first, but this time Forge handed Yuma a 24-26 loss, and another close fourth set ended with a 21-25 loss.
“Forge Christian was another one that very easily could have gone in our favor,” Nighswonger said. “Just a few mental mistakes at some inopportune times, and the ball just didn’t fall our way. I’m still very proud of how the girls played and handled themselves.”
Yuma again had a good serving effort, going 93 percent from the line. Bailey Nighswonger was 17-17 with one ace, Black 19-22 with five aces, Berkley Nighswonger 10-10, Moran 10-11, Sheffield 10-11, Gonzales 7-7, and Ross 5-6. Moran had 12 kills, Gonzales eight, Berkley Nighswonger six, and Bailey Nighswonger one. Forge Christian had 57 kills compared to 27 for Yuma.