All aspects of the Fort Stockton Prowler volleyball team’s game had to come together just right in order to take down the Pecos Eagles on Oct. 14. It did, and the Prowlers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 22-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-19, 15-13 win.

“The varsity squad came out with a chip on their shoulder and victory on their minds,” coach Sera Ramirez said.

Pecos jumped off to an 8-1 lead in the first game and led 9-3 as the Prowlers couldn’t quite keep pace.

That changed in game two as Fort Stockton took advantage of Pecos defensive errors and strong serving by Sophia Hernandez, Mia Garcia, Ivanna Ortiz and Eliana Mata. Amaya Urias, Hernandez and Angelina Aguirre had several kills and Aryanna Gonzalez led the defense.

“Eliana Mata quarterbacked her offense, recording 23 assists, while Alyssa Rangel closely followed with 17,” Ramirez noted. “Aryanna Gonzalez proved that she’s not just a well-oiled defensive machine, recording 36 digs, but she can serve too. Gonzalez aced six serves in the victor.”

Mata followed up with 30 digs and Ivanna Ortiz 20 digs. Urias recorded a team-high 15 kills and four blocks. Aguirre also added nine kills, while Garcia, Hernandez and Mata added seven kills apiece.

Pecos regrouped in game three for a 25-21 win, but the Prowlers dug deep to win the final two games of the match, 25-19 and 15-13.

In game four, the score was tied at 10 when the Prowlers began to pull away off more Pecos mistakes, kills by Urias and Garcia and strong serving by Ortiz, Ashlynn Marquez, Gonzalez, and Hernandez.

Game five was tied seven times before the Prowlers pulled out the 15-13 win.

JV falls in three

The junior varsity fell to Pecos in three, winning the second set 25-23 and losing the first and third sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-19.

“Elina Montes held the back row down with 15 digs, Adamari Renteria provided options for her hitters recording 12 assists, seven digs and two aces,” said Ramirez. “Freshman duo Kimbree Norman and Jocelynn Arcides led the offense in kills with six and five respectively, while Norman also added three digs, Arcides tallied five aces.

“Priscilla Trevino rounded out the stat lines with six aces, six digs and three kills.”

The freshman team lost in three sets with scores of 25-21, 17-25 and 25-12.