Monument Valley takes first Battle of the Drum this season, wins three of four in opening week
by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The Monument Valley High School volleyball team began their season August 22 at home against Shiprock and it has been a strong start for the Lady Cougars with three wins and one loss to this point.
The team has only lost two sets while winning nine in the first four matches of the season. Their only loss came this past Friday, August 30 in a one-set match against Winslow, AZ at the Window Rock Invitational.
In the season opener Shiprock won the opening set but the Lady Cougars rallied to win three straight and take the match 25-21, 25-17, and 25-19.
Senior Sloane Sheppard led the team with eight kills in the win. Senior Shaundin Blackwater was right behind with seven, freshman Naomi White collected six, and junior Shikeeya Hudson hit five.
White was the top server in the opener, with 12 aces in 14 serves and an 85.7 serve percentage. Blackwater notched six aces in eight attempts and served 75 percent.
Junior Enderya Hernandez was strong at the net with four blocks. Senior Shilah Williams racked up an impressive 15 blocks in the win. Junior Ayainna Cly led with 15 assists and senior Kaylisa Tome had 13.
In game two Monument Valley welcomed Newcomb, NM to town on Tuesday, August 27 and promptly dispatched the Lady Skyhawks in straight sets 28-17, 25-20, and 25-21.
White and Blackwater had seven kills apiece. White served up six aces and Blackwater had four. Williams collected six digs, and Tome led with ten assists.
Game three featured the first Battle of the Drum in the new season with Whitehorse visiting Monument Valley on Thursday, August 29.
The Lady Raiders were no match for their rivals to the south as the Lady Cougars maintained the momentum they’d set in their first two contests, sweeping Whitehorse in straight sets.
On the very next day Monument Valley traveled to Window Rock, AZ for the Window Rock Invitational where they suffered a one-set loss to the Winslow Lady Bulldogs 25-15. No stats were available for the Whitehorse or Winslow matches at the San Juan Record press deadline.
The Lady Cougars were set for a light week this week with just one game on the schedule, at Many Farms, AZ on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Whitehorse, on the other hand, will be very busy over the next few days. They played Shiprock at home on Tuesday, September 3.
They’ll travel to Green River on Thursday, September 5 then Price on Friday, September 6 to take on Pinnacle. The team returns home to host Navajo Mountain on Monday, September 9.