MONTE VISTA – The Sanford and Monte Vista high school volleyball teams began Southern Peaks League play Thursday at the MVHS gym with the Lady Mustangs defeating the Lady Pirates in three sets.
Monte Vista didn’t make it easy, but Sanford prevailed 26-24, 25-13 and 25-15.
The Lady Pirates took a 3-0 lead to begin the first set, but the Lady Mustangs tied the score at 3-3. Monte Vista regained the lead at 6-4, however, Sanford and off five straight points for a 9-6 edge.
The Lady Pirates closed to within 10-9, but the Lady Mustangs had another five-point run to extend their advantage to 14-9.
Monte Vista then went on an 8-1 run to regain the lead at 17-15. It led 18-16 before Sanford came back to retake the lead at 19-18.
The Lady Pirates had a 5-2 rally for a 23-21 edge. The Lady Mustangs scored three unanswered points for a 24-23 lead, but Monte Vista tied the score at 24-24. Sanford scored the final two points for a 26-24 win.
The Lady Pirates scored the first point of the second set, but the Lady Mustangs went on a 10-1 run for a 10-2 advantage. Monte Vista closed to within a 13-6 deficit, however, Sanford scored six consecutive points for a 19-6 lead.
The Lady Pirates rallied to close the gap to 22-13, but the Lady Mustangs scored the final three points for a 25-13 win.
Sanford took a 3-1 lead to open the thirds set, but Monte Vista scored three in a row for a 4-3 edge. The Lady Mustangs then went on an 8-3 run to take an 11-7 lead.
The Lady Pirates came back to close the gap to 13-11. However, the Lady Mustangs dominated the rest of the way with a 12-4 rally and a 25-15 win.
Brooklynn Reynolds led the Sanford offense with 22 assists. Claire Crowther led in kills with 12, followed by Avery Koenig with seven and Bella Peterson with six. Koenig and Peterson led in service aces with two apiece.
Aiyana Chavez led Monte Vista in kills with 10 and she also had four assists. Abbi Ortega led in assists with seven. Chavez, Destiny Pacheco and Reagan Futrell each had one ace.
Sanford (1-2, 1-0) is competing at the West Grand Invitational in Kremmling this weekend. Monte Vista (1-3, 0-1) will host Buena Vista on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
