Cowboys close volleyball season with pride and promise

MEEKER | The Meeker High School volleyball team wrapped up its 2025 season this past weekend, traveling to Holyoke to compete in the CHSAA Class 2A Region 5 Tournament.

The No. 20-seeded Cowboys opened play Saturday morning against No. 32 Swallows Charter Academy from Pueblo, earning a commanding three-set sweep (25-20, 25-18, 25-15) to advance to the regional final.

Later that day, Meeker faced host and No. 5 seed Holyoke with a trip to the state tournament on the line. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Cowboys fell in straight sets, 25-15, 25-17 and 25-22, ending their postseason run.

Head coach Greg Cravens, who completed his ninth season at Meeker, 27th coaching high school volleyball, and 30th overall, said he was proud of how his team competed throughout the weekend.

“I’m very proud of the team this weekend. We battled, and that’s all I can ask as a coach,” Cravens said. “I felt we played okay against Swallows Charter because we won, but we weren’t as good as we needed to be offensively.”

Against Holyoke, Cravens said Meeker showed grit against one of the state’s top teams.

“We battled against Holyoke, which is a very good volleyball team. They were the number one team in the state for much of the season, and I can see why,” he said. “I thought we played very well defensively but still had our issues on the offensive end.”

Cravens credited his team’s defensive effort in keeping rallies alive against Holyoke’s powerful attack.

“Holyoke was big. Holyoke was talented. Holyoke is a very good volleyball team,” he said. “We had our struggles at the net against them, but I thought defensively we held our own. They were going to get big hits and kills, but we extended rallies by playing good defense and getting the ball back over in their square.”

After the tournament, Cravens reminded his team to take pride in their effort and growth.

“We battled, and against very good volleyball teams, that’s what I’m looking for as a coach,” he said. “As long as we battle, I don’t care if we play North Park or Fossil Ridge. What I’m looking for is effort and improvement.”

Cravens said he was especially proud of how the team came together down the stretch.

“I truly appreciated how this team came together this year,” he said. “I felt this team did everything they could to fulfill the goals we set at the beginning of the season. We didn’t achieve them all, but we gave it everything we had. When I felt I needed to make changes, this team did the things I asked them to do.”

The Cowboys’ senior class — Jacey Follman, Morgan Keetch, Lilly Newman, Braydin Raley, Shailee Rundberg, Lissbeth Sanchez and Rylee Sullivan — left a lasting mark on the program.

“This year’s seniors provided good leadership and love to this program,” Cravens said. “They took care of the rest of the program and showed how to be great teammates. They’re responsible for many smiles and tons of laughter over the last four years. The heart they gave to me, volleyball and this program will always be remembered. This year’s freshmen are very lucky to have these girls as their seniors.”

Cravens also credited the younger players and coaching staff for helping build a strong foundation for the future.

“This program is in very good hands,” he said. “Our program is good because my assistant coaches are incredible at creating good volleyball players. I love watching our JV and C teams play because seeing how much they grow by the end of the year is incredible.”

Looking back, Cravens said the team’s greatest progress wasn’t just on the court.

“I’m not sure it’s related to volleyball,” he said. “The area of growth I saw this year was how much these girls came together as a team. They gave everything they had for each other. They looked after each other. Watching teams grow in areas that aren’t just part of the sport gives us great pride and a good reason to keep doing what we do.”

As the Cowboys close the chapter on their 2025 season, their legacy will be defined by resilience, unity and determination. Meeker’s seniors set the standard for leadership and teamwork, while the underclassmen gained valuable experience that will carry into next year. The program’s future remains bright as the next generation of players continues to build on the foundation laid by this year’s group — a team that embodied the true spirit of Meeker volleyball.

The Cowboys finished the year with an overall record of 15-10, going 8-2 in league play and placing third in the 2A/1A Western Slope League, earning a top-20 regional seed and competing among Colorado’s best 2A programs.