MEEKER | The Meeker High School Cowboys volleyball team wrapped up a demanding final week of the regular season, beginning with Senior Night against Roaring Fork on Tuesday after sweeping Vail Mountain the previous evening. The teams last met at the Glenwood Springs Tournament, where Meeker won in two sets, but this time the Rams — playing their final match of the season — earned a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-15).
Head coach Greg Cravens said the Cowboys struggled early.
“We didn’t pass well and our offense failed us,” he said. “They punched us in the face and we didn’t answer the call.”
Meeker then traveled to the Buena Vista Tournament to close out the regular season. The Cowboys opened with a two-set loss to Gunnison. Seniors Shailee Rundberg and freshman Raegan Clatterbaugh led with three kills each, senior setter Jacey Follman had eight assists and senior Braydin Raley finished with 16 digs.
In their second match, Meeker pushed host Buena Vista to three sets before falling 2-1 (22-25, 25-21, 13-15). Senior Rylee Sullivan posted 12 kills and Follman added 20 assists and 13 digs. Raley anchored the defense with 28 digs. Clatterbaugh recorded three blocks, and Rundberg added two kills and seven digs.
The Cowboys continued battling in a three-set match against Middle Park. Junior Sawyer May and Rundberg led with seven kills each, Follman had 19 assists and Raley added 18 digs. Meeker dropped the match 2-1 (10-25, 25-19, 15-6).
Despite the losses, Cravens said the group gained valuable playoff preparation.
“We were two points from beating the No. 10 team in 2A,” he said. “Middle Park has a tall, talented player, and our girls made adjustments. We just didn’t finish.”
Meeker closed the tournament — and regular season — with a 2-0 win over Del Norte (25-14, 25-18). Sullivan led with 11 kills and 10 digs, Clatterbaugh added five kills and three blocks, Follman tallied 26 assists and Raley posted 14 digs.
Cravens praised the team’s stamina and depth.
“Six matches in six days is a lot, and they played their butts off for each other,” he said. “When I sub, it’s usually for one point — and the girls went in and did their job.”
Looking ahead, Cravens said consistency will be crucial.
“We’ll have one girl on and the rest not matching her. I’m hoping we’re waiting for playoffs to shine together.”
On Monday, Meeker was named the No. 20 seed in the CHSAA 2A regional tournament and will travel to Region 5 in Holyoke to face No. 32 Swallows Charter Academy and No. 5 Holyoke.
“There are 40 teams that don’t get the chance we get this weekend,” Cravens said. “We need to appreciate the opportunity and take advantage of it. I love the playoffs — let’s go make some memories.”
Freshman Raegan Clatterbaugh praised the seniors’ leadership.
“They make sure we know our jobs and play to our abilities,” she said, adding that the team has grown more aggressive on both sides of the ball.
Senior Shailee Rundberg said the group finally found its rhythm.
“We’ve figured out trust, and if we stay dialed in, we can take this program far,” she said. “Coming into playoffs as a senior, it’s all or nothing. This is the most special team I’ve ever played with.”
The winner of Region 5 will advance to the state tournament Nov. 13–15. Meeker enters postseason play with renewed confidence and momentum from its late-season finish.
Senior #12 Morgan Keetch prepares to serve the ball during Meeker’s senior night match against Roaring Fork. The Cowboys battled hard but ultimately fell to the Rams 3-1. Jared Henderson PHOTO