The Cowboys finished regionals by dominating with speed, strength, and execution, making it to state for the fourth and final year for seniors Haiely Larson, Emma Luce, Ariel Gallegos, Nora Gianinetti, and Grace Roberts.
Meeker Cowboy volleyball crushed the competition at regionals and headed to state competition in Denver late Wednesday with the first game at 5 p.m. Thursday. | BOBBY GUTIERREZ PHOTO
“I was very proud of the girls this past weekend,” began head coach Greg Cravens. “Our plan was to go in and get it done and move on to state, and that is exactly what we did.”
Meeker beat both Heritage Christian and Mancos in three sets.
“Both teams stuck with us until about 10 points each set, then we would have a five to six point rally, and the other teams were only able to score a couple more.”
In game one against Heritage Christian the scores were 25-10, 25-14, 25-13 and game two against Mancos 25-14, 25-17, 25-17.
The Cowboys now look to state. They enter the tournament as the three seed which allows them to bypass the first round. Their first game will be between the winner of Vail Christian and North Fork.
“Vail Christian beat North Fork in five sets during the season,” commented Cravens, “North Fork is not the same team they were when we met them. Their setter was gone at the state fair and they have a new libero that moved in.”
There is a new format for state, it is a double elimination tournament, up to the semifinals as the loser of the semifinals is out.
If the Cowboys continue to win game to game, they will play in the evenings. Their first game is a guaranteed 5 p.m. Thursday, with a win they will play Friday evening and then Saturday afternoon.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
