Trojans make it five in a row with win over Primero

Sophomore Shiinei Tallman (9) attacks during Thursday’s home match against Primero. The Trojans kept the visitors quiet earning a 3-0 win at home. (VC/Jiron)

ANTONITO — Another home game for the Trojans resulted in another home win. Antonito (7-2) played host to the Primero Bulldogs (0-5) on Thursday night, blanking the visitors 3 sets to none.

Antonito is looking for a bounce-back season after logging a losing record in 2018. So far so good, the Trojans are on a winning streak and hold the No. 25 spot in Colorado 1A volleyball according to the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). The Trojans also are one of four teams in their district that are undefeated in-league. A distinction that includes perennial postseason teams La Veta (7-0) and Sangre de Cristo (5-2).

The first set and the two teams went through a small adjustment period putting up small points and playing to a 3-3 tie. Antonito struck with the first rally and jumped out to a 6-3 lead. The Trojans would pace Primero to a 12-10 score before they’d add another rally. A 4-point run prompted a Bulldog timeout in an attempt to break up Antonito momentum. It wouldn’t work. On the other side of the timeout, Antonito tallied another 7 points to lead 23-10. An error from Primero closed the first set at 25-12 in Antonito’s favor.

The Trojans started earlier in the second set. Leading 5-4 Shandiin Tallman led the Trojans on another rally from her spot on the service line. Four points prompted another Primero timeout. The Trojans would register 9 unanswered points from Tallman’s serves to put the game nearly out of reach. Antonito would pace the visitors to the match point before a Tallman let serve gave the Trojans the win in set two 25-11, to lead two sets to none. 

The third set was the most competitive of the match, the Bulldogs got their own rally thanks to freshman Hailet Harris’ time at the service line. Primero would rally for 4 unanswered points to close the distance to a 17-15 set. Down the stretch, Antonito led to the match point but the offense slowed as they neared it. The Trojans would collect side out points to inch their way to 24-10 earning the win on a Primero error closing Thursday with a 3-0 win.

Antonito will look to build on their streak when they go on the road for the first time this month. The Trojans go on the road to take on Sierra Grande on Saturday at 11 a.m.