Yuma volleyball playing the waiting game

Yuma High School’s volleyball team entered the week right on the cusp of qualifying for the postseason.

The Outlaws last regular season match was this past Tuesday at Limon. They were 9-12 and had moved up to No. 33 in the 2A CHSAA Seeding & Selection Index, following Friday’s home win in four sets over rival Wray.

Limon entered this past Tuesday’s match 6-13 and No. 35 in the Index, so the Outlaws really needed to get the win for a chance at moving into the top 32 for regional.

“As far as trying to make it to the regional tournament, we have been playing really well lately, so I am fairly confident,” coach Jamie Nighswonger said earlier this week.

The regional field will be released early next week on CHSAANow.com.

However, the Outlaws ended up losing in five sets at Limon, dropping to 9-13 and to No. 37 in the Index as of Friday.

Last Friday’s rivalry match was Yuma’s only action last week.

The Yuma County foes played tight sets in the early going. Yuma pulled out a 25-21 win in the first set. The second was even tighter from start to finish, but the Outlaws were able to pull out a 25-23 win.

However, they could not get the sweep as Wray rallied for a 25-17 win in the third set.

The Outlaws regained control in the fourth, cruising to a 25-16 win.

Yuma served just 87 percent compared to 94 percent for Wray but still got the win. The Outlaws had five more serves, and recorded 12 more kills than Wray. Alina Moran and Lauren Gonzales each had 10 kills, Lindsey Hermosillo eight, Taryn Sheffield seven, and Bailey Nighswonger and Braylynn Armstrong one each. Nighswonger recorded 23 setting assists. Moran was 17-20 serving, Gonzales 15-15 with one ace, Nighswonger 13-15 with one ace, Sheffield 13-14, Hermosillo 8-11, Carolina Ross 5-6 with two aces, Armstrong 6-8 and Chloe Smith 2-2.

Yuma played without starters Aubrey Black and Berkley Nighswonger.

“That was a great win,” Nighswonger said. “We were missing two starters and had lots of distractions with it being the last game in the Pit and Pink Out, and we were still able to get it done.”