Ram tough

WELLTON - There are plenty of reasons for Antelope's success on the volleyball court.

But ask varsity coach Anna Delgado and she'll tell you there are two that have stood out above the rest since they were sophomores - defensive co-horts Rocio Lopez and Andie Guerrero.

"We would definitely be a different team without them," Delgado said of her senior captains. "You take away two great passers and that is a lot of our game. I really instill in them that it starts with the pass. We can't do anything else if we can't pass.

"If they are struggling I know it is going to be a rough night. Fortunately, we haven't had too many of those."

Lopez was inserted into the starting lineup as a sophomore. Guerrero joined her midway through the same season. And the Rams (9-2, 4-2 2A West) have consistently won ever since.

"I probably should have brought them up as freshmen - they were actually really good," Delgado said. "I could tell early on they were going to be good and there was no doubt they would be my leaders this year."

When they were sophomores, the Rams ended rival Yuma Catholic's five-year stranglehold on the 2A West Region by sweeping the Shamrocks for the first time.

It was also the first time Antelope had downed YC since 2001, the first year of varsity volleyball for the newly opened private Catholic school in Yuma. The teams split the two meetings that first year.

The Rams opened the season by winning five straight and recently swept the series with the Shamrocks (0-11, 0-7 2A West) with a 3-1 win on Thursday at YC and are in the hunt for 2A West crown.

The Rams are an experienced team with six seniors, but only Guerrero and Rocio are three-year varsity veterans.

Guerrero is the libero (defensive specialist) for the Rams this season and while Rocio may be listed an outside hitter, she does her best work in the back row.

Without hesitation they are willing to hurl their bodies toward the ball.

"You have to be fearless," Guerrero said. "There are some big girls out there that can hit it pretty hard but I am not scared at all. I know I can get to the ball.

"You don't think about anything you get to the ball and pop it up for somebody else."

But being a good defender is more than just a guessing game. The pair have learned to read the opposition - keying on their hands, eyes, feet and spin of the ball.

"We learned proper defense once we got to high school," Rocio said. "I can tell where they are going to hit it. It is a good feeling if you dive for the ball and get it."

Antelope hosts Phoenix-Arizona Lutheran, unbeaten in the 2A West, today. The best-of-five match begins at 6:30 p.m. Lutheran won the first meeting 3-0.

Three Phoenix schools - Lutheran, Phoenix Christian and Bourgade Catholic - were brought into the 2A West prior to the start of the 2007-08 season making it a stronger, deeper region.

After going 0-6 to the Phoenix trio last year, Antelope downed Bourgade Catholic 3-0 to end that streak.

The Rams lost 3-0 to both Arizona Lutheran and Phoenix Christian this year but each game was close, leaving Delgado and her team feeling optimistic about their next meetings.

"We can beat those Phoenix schools," Guerrero said. "We just have to play smart and do our best."