The Yavapai volleyball squad traveled to Roswell, NM for opening weekend competition. The team played 4 tough matches in the New Mexico Milliary Invitational and returned home 2-2. The tournament consisted of several teams who are nationally ranked to start the 2021 season including 2 of Yavapai's opponents. (#3 Snow College & #13 Navarro College)

The Roughriders 1st match of the 2021 season was against the Snow College Badgers who earned a spot in the 2021 Spring National Championship match. The Badgers finished as National Runners Up and start off the 2021 campaign as the #3 ranked team. The Badger's tough serving and enormous block gave the Roughriders trouble in the first 2 sets but Yavapai found some rhythm in the 3rd set and gave themselves a chance at a 4th set. Unfortunately Snow College prevailed by scores of 17-25, 13-25, 22-25.

Yavapai's next match was against another extremely tough opponent as they took on the host Broncos from New Mexico Military Institute in the night cap. As they always do the cadets from NMMI showed up to support their team and created an exciting atmosphere throughout the entire match. The Roughriders played exceptionally well in set 1 earning the win 25- 22. In sets 2 & 3 the table turned and Yavapai struggled with too many out of system plays due to inconsistent passing. The Broncos capitalized and took the match lead 2-1. The 4th set was a battle from start to finish with both teams playing well. Yavapai eventually fell by 4 points (21-25) and dropped the match 1-3.

After playing the late match on Day 1 Yavapai returned to the court on Day 2 at 10:00 am to face the #13 ranked Bulldogs from Navarro College. Navarro won the NJCAA DI National Championship in 2019 but was unable to defend their Championship due to COVID19 issues in the spring of 2021. The Roughriders took to heart some of the lessons they learned on Day 1 and were able to win set 1. The 2nd set turned out to be something nobody expected this early in the season! Both teams served with set point on the line but neither team would surrender, so the set continued well past the usual 25 points needed to secure a victory. With Navarro up 31-30 Yavapai set freshmen middle blocker Jada Schultz who's attack sent the Bulldogs scrambling to return the ball over the net then freshman outside hitter Kierslynn Wright put away the quick outside set off the Navarro block to tie the set at 31-31. Wright then went to service line with the set tied and served an ace to give the Roughriders the lead 32-31. The next play involved a good rally by both teams but an eventual attacking error by Navarro gave the Roughriders a 33-31 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. The Navarro players much like their mascot (Bulldogs) would not give up and had a lot of fight left in them. Yavapai dropped sets 3 & 4. With the match tied 2-2 it was now time for a 5th set tie breaker to 15. Yavapai played their best set of the match keeping their errors to a minimum building a strong lead in the middle of the set. Eventually Yavapai sealed the victory with a kill by freshman setter Brooke Parker and won the match 3-2.

The tired and weary Roughriders returned to the court at 2:00 pm for their 4th match to take on Vernon College. Yavapai played a little inconsistent but strong enough to earn a 3-0 victory for their 2nd win of the season.

With a 2-2 record after opening weekend the Roughrider will now prepare for 2 matches against Ottawa University on Saturday August 28th in Surprise, AZ. Yavapai will take on the Spirit JV team at 2:00 pm and the Spirit varsity team at 6:00 pm.