Sophomore Monique Snell puts away the spike. Photo by Dave Lumia 
The Lobos celebrate after sweeping Baboquivari on Tuesday night. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Senior Ximena Gonzalez sets up her teammates. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Monique Snell and Ximena Gonzalez team up on defense. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Freshman Charlotte Myers keeps her eye on the ball. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Senior Emma Lewton follows through on a kill. Photo by Dave Lumia
The toughest tests are yet to come, but the Patagonia High volleyball team continues to ace its preliminary exams.
The Lobos improved their official record to 5-0 with a 25-11, 25-15, 25-11 homecourt victory over Baboquivari on Tuesday night, but 5-0 doesn’t tell the whole story.
The five victories are all by 3-0 scores—including a pair of wins over Class 2A schools (Bisbee and Tombstone)—and only once in 15 sets have the Lobos surrendered more than 17 points to an opponent.
Even more telling is Patagonia’s play in two early season invitational tournaments. After winning three of four matches to finish second at the Cochise County Roundup on Aug. 30, the Lobos duplicated that feat at the Small School Invite in Phoenix on Sept. 6. Two of the three victories came against Class 2A schools—Lincoln Prep and Mountainside. Patagonia lost the championship match to undefeated Wickenburg, one of the state’s largest 2A schools, by a score of 25-17, 25-18.
While the tournament results don’t count in state rankings, they provide valuable experience against tougher competition. The Lobos already have 13 matches under their belt—six of those against Class 2A teams—and have amassed 11 victories.
“It’s good to get our feet wet against bigger schools,” captain Emma Lewton said.
The Lobos overcame a number of obstacles to put up a strong showing at the Phoenix tournament. They were without two of their starting players—Lewton was taking her college entrance exams, and senior libero Lulu Donnelly was ill—plus they had to play four matches after a three-hour bus ride, leaving the school at 5am to make the journey.
“The girls were really tired,” coach Brenda Somoza said. “It was a really good tournament; a much different level of competition that we don’t see here early in the season. It’s good to go up against teams that play faster volleyball. It gets [us] ready for what we’ll see later on.”
Lewton and Donnelly were back in the lineup for Tuesday’s win over Baboquivari, but senior Brianna Majalca missed the match due to illness. The Lobos jumped out to a fast start, scoring the match’s first seven points, then suffered a bit of a letdown in the second set before putting away the Lady Warriors, with the final point coming on a resounding kill by sophomore Monique Snell.
“We need to keep our energy level consistent,” Lewton said. “We kind of mellowed out, matched their energy level.”
Somoza agreed: “Games like this teach me some things we need to work on. The game was slow. Our back row got a little lazy.”
While the Lobos continue to rely on their veteran core of seniors Lewton, Majalca, Donnelly and Ximena Gonzalez, junior Amaya Somoza and sophomore Snell, the recent absences have created opportunities for sophomore Nicole Cabrera and freshman Charlotte Myers. Myers had a strong game at the net against Baboquivari.
“She’s gaining confidence, being more aggressive, taking risks,” Somoza said. “That’s what I’ve been telling them. I’d rather they make mistakes taking risks than being too passive.”
The Lobos are back in action Thursday with a road match at Ray, then return home to play Lourdes Catholic next Tuesday.
