MEEKER | The Meeker Cowboys volleyball team continued their strong season this past weekend, defeating the North Fork Miners in a five-set match on Friday night. Coming into the game with eight consecutive wins, the Cowboys edged out the Miners, winning three sets and losing two.
Meeker head coach Greg Cravens discussed the team’s strategy going into Friday’s match. “We knew they were big. We played them two or three times during the summer, and we knew where they were strong,” Cravens said. “Their ball control has improved since summer, so we tried to focus on controlling things on our side.”
The match was closely contested, with the Cowboys forcing a decisive fifth set. The score was tied 14-14 in the final set before Meeker pulled ahead to win 16-14. The set scores were 19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 24-26, and 16-14.
“When we started to come back in the fifth set, the kids began to believe in each other,” Cravens said. He praised Brooke Arnold, a player who had recently been moved up to the varsity team. “She stepped up and did some good things.”
Junior Rylee Sullivan led Meeker’s serving efforts, delivering 27 serves. “I knew we needed the win, and good serves would keep the ball away from their big hitters,” Sullivan said. The Cowboys finished the match with 13 aces, their highest in the last seven games.
Sullivan explained how she stays focused while serving: “I keep the same routine every time I serve. My team is always there to pick me up, whether it’s a good or bad serve.”
Cravens called a crucial timeout during the fifth set. “I told them to keep battling. We’re a good volleyball team, and we just needed to show it,” Cravens said. The Cowboys’ win brought their record to 12-3 for the season.
Caprock Academy Match
The Cowboys returned to the court the following day, defeating Caprock Academy in three straight sets. Meeker, which had nine consecutive wins heading into Saturday’s match, took control early and won 25-23, 25-17, and 25-18.
“It was a well-rounded performance,” Cravens said. “Caprock was missing their best middle and outside hitters due to injuries.”
Juniors Braydin Raley and Rylee Sullivan led the Cowboys, with Raley contributing 12 digs and Sullivan adding 20 digs, 10 kills, and six aces. Raley has recorded 10 or more digs in each of the Cowboys’ last nine games, a streak that dates back to last season.
With Saturday’s victory, Meeker’s record improved to 13-3. The Cowboys, who have won 11 of their last 12 contests, are currently 17th in the CHSAA Seeding Index for regionals but are expected to move up to fourth.
Upcoming Matches
Meeker will face Vail Mountain on Friday at 4 p.m. in their final Western Slope League match.
The team will celebrate Senior Night on Saturday against Olathe at 1 p.m., before closing the regular season at the Buena Vista Tournament on Nov. 1-2.
By JARED HENDERSON
