Volleyball ends season at state tournament
The Meeker Cowboys Volleyball team stayed in Colorado Springs to watch the championship, with Sedgwick County beating out Holyoke for the state title. | TIFFANY JEHOREK PHOTOS
MEEKER I Meeker Cowboys Volleyball took the court this past weekend at the Colorado State Championship Tournament at the World Arena in Colorado Springs. Twelve teams qualified from around the state. This is the first year that the tournament had bracketing similar to the NCAA tournament where the tournament was double elimination until the semifinals. After four games the Cowboys came out 2-2 for the tournament, made it to the final four, and played some great volleyball.
“I’m so proud of this team, we had such a great season, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to have this experience with,” began head coach Greg Cravens. “I spent most the weekend hearing from people about how good our team was but more importantly, what great kids they are, from people in the arena, when we were eating and shopping.”
The Cowboys opened their tournament to Rye who had that morning taken on the Limon Badgers and won in three sets. The Cowboys lost the opening set, then turned it around and dominated the last three, winning 3-1, 16-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-18 and moving on to the quarterfinals.
Meeker didn’t take to the court again until Friday evening, a game which was originally scheduled at 3:30, which kicked off nearly 1.5 hours late against the Wiggins Tigers. Meeker took sets two and four, while the Tigers took sets one and three, moving the game to five sets. Wiggins took the final set, which meant now the Cowboys were forced to battle their way back from the losers side of the bracket. Set Scoring for the Cowboys and Tigers, 17-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-22, 12-15.
“We felt like we played well against Wiggins and if you look at the stats we didn’t make a lot of errors,” said Cravens, “Wiggins had to earn the win, we didn’t give them anything.”
Saturday morning the Cowboys opened the day for class 2A, taking on the Limon Badgers. This was the second time this season these teams had met. Leaving it all behind from the night before, the Cowboys beat the Badgers, 3-0, winning 25-16, 25-18, 25-17.
“I was really proud that the girls bounced back Saturday morning and beat Limon; the girls again played without a lot of errors and created some offense from all over the court,” said Cravens.
Had the Cowboys remained in the winners bracket, they would not have met up with Sedgwick County until the finals. The loss to Wiggins meant they had to take on the number one team in the state in the semifinals. The Cougars beat the Cowboys in three sets, 20-25, 9-25, 22-25.
“Volleyball season came to an end with a battle against 2A Champion Sediwick County,” commented Cravens. “We didn’t play our best in the second set but the girls played well in the last set. Sediwick County is good and well deserved champion.”
The team stayed in Colorado Springs to watch the championship, Sedgwick County played Holyoke in the final to take it all.
“Coming back from Colorado Springs, I’m just filled with pride for my team and coaches,” commented Cravens. “Coach Turner and Coach Steerman are a big reason we had such a great season. Those two love our girls so much and take care of all of us. We don’t do what we did this year without them.”
LOOKING BACK ON AN UNDEFEATED SEASON …
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN AMAZING SEASON!
And thank you to our photographers!!!
Special to the Herald Times
