RANGELY I The Rangely volleyball team will host Meeker on Friday night in a league rematch and then travel to Paonia to take on the current league leaders.
The lady Panthers will have another opportunity to test their young team against what looks to be the No. 1 and No. 2 teams this week, with Simone Heinle back and playing well for the team and a Panther squad with nothing to lose as they prepare for post season play.
Friday night will be Rangely’s parents’ night as it is their last home game of the season.
Rangely played Hotchkiss and Plateau Valley on Thursday and Friday and came up short in both matches. Coach Jimmie Mergelman said, “We must learn how to win and we have to be able to finish.”
She certainly sees their potential and knows how well they can play as they have beaten great teams this season. In fact, Rangely came out strong against Plateau Valley, beating them in the first game 25-23, they continued to fight but lost game two 22-25. They were led in serving by Justyne Dembowski with 16, Heinle and Carrie Goddard had 15 each, Hogan with 14, Lindzey Thacker with 10 and Katye Allred rounded out the solid team serving with nine.
Allred also led the team in attacks and kills with 13 kills off of her 57 attacks. Goddard had 23 attempts with eight kills and Desiree Coombs had three kills from 16 attempts.
The Panthers played Hotchkiss on Friday and fell in games one and two with the same score 18-25. They had outstanding team serving, as they combined for 91 percent efficiency. Aimee Hogan lead the way with 21, followed by Allred with 13 and Heinle and Dembowski each adding 12.
Heinle had another solid defensive performance, adding 15 digs to her phenomenal 26 digs from the night before. Chelsea Ficken led the team in kills with six from 34 attempts while Thacker added four kills off of her 13 attempts.
The team looks forward to a great crowd for their Friday night home finale.