Panthers dominate Hayden

RANGELY — The RMS volleyball teams had a busy week.
The girls started out strong on Sept. 23 in Hayden, winning all three matches.
For these matches, the girls were split into three teams for the day (“A,” “B” and “C” teams). Then, on Saturday, Sept. 27, the lady Panthers traveled to Steamboat to take on the Sailors.
The eighth-grade “B” team came out serving strong and dominated the match 25-2 and 25-11. Brittany Babineaux led the match with 12 aces. The “A” match was much more intense.
Coach Valerie Medina said, “I’m very proud of the way the girls played. We only had six eighth-graders playing today, and they did well adjusting to some rotation changes. A couple of the seventh-grade girls, Aimee Hogan and McKale Pennell, were great support for us as well; they were with us in case we needed an emergency sub (such as injury to one of the players). Aimee had to step in, and she did a wonderful job for us. Hopefully the girls will all be able to play this weekend at our home match against the visiting Cowboys.”
Eighth-grade athletes of the week were Shelby Neiberger and Myriah Moreno. Neiberger has been doing an awesome job passing, hitting and she is a great communicator on the court. Moreno continues to be a great leader for the team as their setter.
The seventh-grade team made a great showing in Steamboat against the Sailors. In the B match, the Panthers swept the Sailors in two straight winning 25-22 and 25-23. Mallory Smith lead the team with two aces while Kimber Kinney had two kills for the Panthers.
Darion Collett, Rachel Dillon and Kymberlie Hemphill also played well for Rangely. The A-match got off to a slow start with the Panthers losing 25-15 to the Sailors but the girls were able to make a strong comeback winning the next two 25-12 and 15-9.
Tessa Slagle and Aimee Hogan each had thee aces.
Mckale Pennell and Hailee Russell were both very strong on the front line and Catherine Merino played well in the back row.
This week’s seventh-grade athletes of the week are Mallory Smith and Aimee Hogan.