Prep Volleyball: GV, Durango shoot for title-match rematch

Steve Cunningham

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 10:13 a.m.

As soon as Green Valley polished off its volleyball state-title match victory over Durango last November, the countdown began.

It's t-minus 48 hours until those two schools could resume their postseason acquaintances. The 4A Southern Conference tournament begins this afternoon with Green Valley and Durango as heavy favorites to advance to Saturday's championship game.

But the coaches of both teams -- Erin Hill at Green Valley and Bob Kelly of Durango -- don't want to hear any talk of their possible future meetings.

"The Gators' volleyball philosophy is you have to take it one point, one game and one match at a time," Hill said. "You have to prepare for each team equally. All we are looking at is (Thursday) afternoon."

"Our kids know about the one-game-at-a-time philosophy," said Kelly. "I don't think they'll take any team lightly."

Green Valley opens play at Chaparral against Clark at 3 p.m. Durango meets up with Las Vegas at 5:30 p.m. Two other matches are scheduled -- Bishop Gorman tangles with Basic at 2 p.m. and Silverado and Cimarron-Memorial hook up at 4:15 p.m.

Although Green Valley and Durango swept through their league seasons unblemished, that doesn't guarantee smooth sailing to the championship game. Both Hill and Kelly use the proverbial lines about everybody having a chance.

"All eight of the teams are quality teams with quality players," Hill said. "The team that serves, passes and plays defense the best will come out on top."

"I know for a fact that the other three Sunset teams (Gorman, Cimarron and Clark) can put together good, quality play," Kelly said. "We lost a game to Clark and Gorman. Any team can win, especially in the two-out-of-three format."