Unfamiliar Territory

MONTROSE — Montrose seniors Sydney Rowan and Katie Johnston know all about the Class 4A regional volleyball tournament. Well, they do because of their sisters at least.

For the first time since 2003, when Kelsie Rowan and Ricki Johnston helped guide MHS to its last regional tournament, the Lady Indians will return to regionals this weekend when they travel to Pueblo. Montrose (15-8) is paired with No. 4-seed Pueblo West (22-1) No. 5 Battle Mountain (21-2) and No. 13 Ralston Valley (15-7).

The tournament will be unchartered territory for the Lady Indians, as none of their players have played in a match this deep into the postseason. But despite its inexperience, Montrose is heading into the weekend with the confidence this will only be another step in its climb to a state title.

“It took us four years to get here,” Katie Johnston said. “We’re nervous, but mostly excited. I think at this time of year they go together.”

The Lady Indians are coming off a district tournament in which they won their first three matches before losing to Regis in the championship in five games. Though they fell short of a district title, the Lady Indians’ five-game win over 10th-ranked Moffatt County in the third match of the day sealed them a ticket to regionals for the first time in three seasons.

“The kids were absolutely ready to play,” MHS head coach Shane Forrest said. “That was a huge boost for our confidence. We’ve been put in every situation where we’ve had to battle back and win. We’re prepared in that we’ve seen a lot of scenarios, and this team has proved that they’re winners time and again.”

While Montrose has yet to face any of their regional opponents this season, it can still take confidence from its success against mutual competition.

Earlier this summer, the Lady Indians defeated Pueblo West in a camp tournament. They also defeated Wheat Ridge that beat Ralston Valley this season, and beat Moffat County this weekend, who knocked off Battle Mountain.

How much that will all factor into this weekend’s tournament is questionable, but if nothing else it gives the Lady Indians belief that they can hold their own in a region which features two top-5 teams. Montrose will open play on Saturday at 8 a.m. against Battle Mountain, and if it can finish in the top two in the region it will move on to the state tournament.

“We can play with any of them as long as we play like we did on Saturday,” Sydney Rowan said. “We’ve worked really hard to get here. Plus we have to make sure we beat our sisters.”