MHS volleyball team ends season in Paonia

MEEKER I The Lady Cowboy volleyball team bounced back from a homecoming loss to win the final match of the regular season last Saturday and finish as the Western Slope League’s No. 5 seed.
Meeker played the Eagles in Paonia Tuesday, where their season ended with a hard-fought five-game match, in the first round of the district playoffs.
The Hayden Tigers, the No. 2 seed, spoiled Meeker’s homecoming by winning the match in three straight games.
“Emotions were high, as it was the last home match for the seniors,” coach Christy Atwood said of the homecoming match. “We’re pushing good teams and eliminating mistakes of the past, but we can’t seem to come out on top.”
Atwood was pleased with how her team rebounded to win three straight games against Plateau Valley last Saturday. Atwood was hoping the win would give her team momentum going into the district tournament.
Meeker defeated the Eagles in Paonia but also lost to them at home during the regular season. The Lady Cowboys pushed the Eagles to the end, but lost the match in five games.
“It was definitely the best match of our season,” Atwood said after the game. “Every player found something special inside to play for tonight. Becca de Vergie played, hands down, the best match of the year.”
The match in Paonia was the final one for de Vergie and senior classmates Shae Barrow, Sage Chapin, Denee Chintala, Laura Glass and Elissa McLaughlin.
Meeker started out well in the first game but fell behind once double-digits were reached and lost 15-25.
In the second game, the lead switched back and forth between the two teams before Kaysyn Chintala went on a seven-point scoring spree to put her team ahead 15-9. Barrow then served several points and Meeker went on to win 25-14.
The Lady Cowboys couldn’t keep the momentum and lost the third game 17-25. It looked as though the Eagles would win the match in the fourth game as Meeker fell behind 3-10, before making a big comeback, with strong play from hitters de Vergie, Glass and Kathryn Doll, tying the score at 19.