No. 8 Montrose girls volleyball beats Delta for fifth straight win

The Montrose volleyball team hosted Delta on Thursday and 4A No. 8 Montrose won 26-24, 25-20, 25-15 to win it’s fifth straigh match and improve to 14-3 on the season.

“The team played really well and I was proud of their performance,” Montrose coach Shane Forest said. “It was a great way to celebrate our seniors.”

The Panthers took an early 9-4 lead in Game 1. The first game was tied at 18 before the Indians eventually won 26-24. Again, the Panthers took an early lead at 4-1 in Game 2 and then again at 9-6. Back came the Indians to take a brief 10-9 lead before the Panthers went back up 19-16 before six in a row by the Indians put them ahead 22-19 and the host team won Game 2, 25-20.

Once again, the Panthers took an early five to one lead in the third game before the Indians pulled ahead out a 6-6 tie and never gave up the lead to win set three 25-15.

“I think this game showed how well we all work to together as a team,” Montrose senior Madi Matoush said. “Delta is always a pretty competitive game to play and both teams really showed up. Everyone was on tonight and play really flowed.”

The Indians are 14-3 and sixth in the current RPI standings. The Panthers are 23rd in RPI and 3A.

Kelsey Rocco led Montrose with 17 digs. Jada Ray had 14, Matoush had 12 and Bre Brasier had 12.Taylor Foster had five blocks, Matoush had three and Taygan Rocco had two. Kelsey Rocco and Matoush had 12 kills apiece. Foster had seven.

For the Panthers, Erika Kuta had eight kills, Ellie Ames had seven, and Melana McCormick and Raelee McCurdy had four apiece. Kaelynn Porter had two. McCurdy and Jillian Carlson had one apiece. Kuta had 23 digs. McCurdy had 13, Ames had 11, McCormick had ten, Carlson and Porter had seven apiece. Kuta had eight kills, Ames had seven, McCurdy and McCormick had four apiece. Porter had two.

“Tonight we battled in each set, but couldn’t finish,” Delta coach Beth Nelson said. “I’m proud of how my team continues to make improvements as we prepare for the playoffs. We need to clean up a few mistakes, but I like how aggressive we are playing.”

Montrose will host Durango on Saturday for its final regular season home game. Delta will be playing in a regular-season tournament Oct. 29-30.