Lady Mustangs persevere in win over Piedra Vista
By Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi
Navajo Times
FARMINGTON, Sept. 11, 2014
(Times photo – Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi)
Monument Valley’s Ohiyah Shirley (8) makes a kill as two Piedra Vista High School players jump for the block on Sept. 4. Monument Valley defeated Piedra Vista 3-2 (25-15, 25-20, 19-25, 16-25, 15-12).
In a highly competitive match, the Lady Mustangs defeated the Lady Panthers 3-2 (25-15, 25-20, 19-25, 16-25, 15-12).
Monument Valley head coach Rennell Gilmore said last season the team fell short in the state tournament because they didn’t have the heart but now that’s changed.
“I told them we got to learn from our past to help ourselves in the near future, and it did come up right there,” Gilmore said. “They know what happened and they stuck it out and that’s good.
“The only way we’re going to win matches like this is if we stay together as a team and they did this last set,” Gilmore said.
In the last set with Piedra Vista, the two teams split the score. Monument Valley led 12-11 before closing the game with the three kills by Kaitlyn Wayne and Ohiyah Shirley.
Piedra Vista head coach Ron Becker said his team did all the right things in the final set and that they simply fell short.
“It could have been anybody’s game at that point,” he said. “They (MV) played really well and I felt that we played super well in the end, so I’m happy with them."
Over the years, the two teams have developed a rivalry and both coaches knew it was a going to be a hard-fought battle.
Gilmore said the two met once already during a summer camp at Adams State University and knew each other’s strengths.
“They’re always a great team every year,” she said. “We kind of knew what they were running … I’m pretty sure they saw what we were doing too, that’s why it was very competitive.”
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