MEEKER | The Meeker Cowboys volleyball team hit the road this past weekend, opening with a dominant win over North Park on Friday evening before falling to Plateau Valley on Saturday.
Meeker entered the weekend riding a six-match win streak after defeating West Grand 3-1 the previous week. The Cowboys last faced North Park on Oct. 11, 2024, earning a straight-set sweep at home. This time, Meeker repeated the result on the road, sweeping the Wildcats 25-10, 25-18 and 25-13.
Head coach Greg Cravens said he was pleased with his team’s all-around performance Friday.
“The girls played well Friday night,” Cravens said. “We served very well with 13 aces and a 95.9% serving percentage. I like how rounded we are hitting — Rylee and Raegan with eight kills and Sawyer and Newman with five each.”
Despite the long travel day, Cravens said the team did a good job creating their own energy.
“With a 2 ½-hour drive to play one match and then 2 ½ hours back, it’s hard, but the girls were good at creating some energy for themselves,” he said.
With the win, Meeker improved to 10-3 overall and 6-1 in league play, extending its streak to seven straight victories — their last loss coming on Sept. 12 against Vail Christian. The Cowboys controlled the match behind a balanced offense and strong defense.
Senior Rylee Sullivan and freshman Raegan Clatterbaugh led the attack with eight kills each. Jacey Follman and Hailey Schwartz combined for 22 assists to keep Meeker’s offense fast and fluid. From the service line, Clatterbaugh recorded five aces on perfect serving, while junior Sawyer May added four.
On defense, senior Braydin Raley anchored the back row with 12 digs and 15 serve receives. Sullivan and Clatterbaugh each added 11 digs as Meeker controlled the pace throughout all three sets.
The following day, Meeker traveled to Collbran to take on Plateau Valley. The Cowboys defeated Plateau Valley in straight sets in 2024, but this time fell 3-1 on the road.
Cravens said Saturday’s match proved more challenging.
“Saturday was very difficult for us,” he said. “We had a small drop-off in serving, and offensively we couldn’t find the floor against Plateau Valley. We scored 12 kills a set Friday night and only six kills a set on Saturday. We did not have a good offensive match.”
Still, Cravens praised his team’s fight, highlighting a standout defensive effort.
“Even when things weren’t going our way, we battled,” he said. “Braydin was a saving fool on Saturday. She had several diving saves for us. She worked hard and probably had a few bruises afterward.”
May led Meeker’s offense with seven kills, while Sullivan and Clatterbaugh tallied five apiece. Senior Lilly Newman and junior Lili Hernandez each added four kills. Newman was perfect from the service line with three aces, while Lissbeth Sanchez added two and Sullivan chipped in one.
May said she felt confident going into the match and credited her teammates for setting up strong offensive opportunities.
“I felt really confident going into that match,” May said. “My teammates did a great job with passing and setting, which gave me a lot of good opportunities to swing. I was seeing the court well, and once I got a rhythm early, everything started to flow.”
She said her approach relies on reading the defense and trusting her instincts.
“If I see an open spot or blockers out of position, I’ll aim for placement,” she said. “But if it’s a clean set and the timing feels right, I like to be aggressive and put the ball down hard.”
May added that serving plays a key role in building momentum for the team.
“I think serving is a big momentum builder,” she said. “When I can force out-of-system balls, it sets up our defense and gives us energy. A strong service run can really shift the tone of a set.”
She also credited the team’s communication and chemistry for helping them stay composed under pressure.
“We’ve gotten a lot better at talking through plays and trusting each other on the court,” she said. “Everyone’s more vocal, and that makes everything smoother — especially in tight moments when communication really matters.”
Defensively, Sullivan led with 15 digs, followed by Raley and Clatterbaugh with 11 each, and Follman and Newman with eight apiece. Schwartz set the tempo with 11 assists, supported by Follman with eight. In serve receive, Raley took 43 receptions with just six errors, while Clatterbaugh added 17 and Sullivan had 14.
The loss dropped Meeker to 10-4 overall and 6-2 in league play, placing third in the 2A/1A Western Slope League standings.
As the Cowboys prepare for a pair of home matches this weekend, Cravens said the focus is on rest and recovery.
Meeker hosts North Fork on Friday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m., followed by Caprock Academy on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m.
Senior Rylee Sullivan gets ready to serve during last year’s Pink Out game. This weekend, the Meeker Cowboys will host their annual Pink Out matches Friday and Saturday, continuing the tradition of raising awareness while bringing energy and focus to the court. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO
By JARED HENDERSON |
*Updated to reflect Corrections*