MEEKER | The Meeker Cowboys volleyball team wrapped up their regular season in Buena Vista this past weekend, competing in a challenging tournament. The team played four games against strong opponents, finishing with a 2-2 tournament record. Facing three Class 3A schools, the Cowboys secured wins against Salida and Class 2A Monte Vista. Entering the tournament on a 12-game winning streak, the Cowboys extended it to 13 after defeating Monte Vista on Friday afternoon, winning both sets with dominant scores.
The Cowboys shut out Monte Vista, claiming both sets with at least a 10-point margin. They won the first set 25-12 and the second set 25-15. Senior Reese Clatterbaugh led the offensive charge with 13 kills, while Graycee Cravens contributed 14 assists. Taylor Garcia also played a crucial role from the service line, adding two aces to secure the win.
However, Meeker’s winning streak ended in the Friday night matchup against the Middle Park Panthers. Despite taking one of the three sets, the Cowboys lost 2-1 to the Panthers, who had extra motivation after a prior loss to Meeker in October 2022. The set scores were 15-25, 25-18, and 15-8, with Middle Park ultimately coming out on top.
Reflecting on the loss, Head Coach Greg Cravens said, “Our match against Middle Park on Friday afternoon was a tough one. We only averaged 10.6 earned points per set. Middle Park was strong on defense and had a very good hitter, Peyton Fosha (who has relatives in Meeker), who finished the match with 11 kills.”
Junior Rylee Sullivan led the Cowboys’ offense against Middle Park with eight kills. Junior Jacey Follman added 13 assists, while senior Graycee Cravens contributed two aces from the service line. Despite the loss, the Cowboys maintained a strong season record of 16-4.
The Cowboys faced another challenge on Saturday morning against the Gunnison Cowboys, dropping both sets in a close contest. While Meeker was unable to secure a win, they kept the score tight, with the first set ending at 25-18 and the second at 25-22. Coach Cravens acknowledged Gunnison’s strong offense: “We battled against Gunnison Saturday morning. It was one of their best offensive matches of the season, and we struggled to stop them.”
In their final game of the tournament on Saturday evening, the Cowboys rallied back to defeat the Salida Spartans in a tight three-set match, winning two sets and losing one. The final scores were 25-22, 24-26, and 15-13, allowing the Cowboys to conclude the tournament with a 2-2 record.
With their victory over Salida, Meeker finished the regular season with a record of 17-5. The team also clinched the Western Slope League Championship title and achieved a No. 9 ranking in the state. This standing has earned them the opportunity to host regionals this weekend. The regional tournament will feature a three-team pool format, with the winner advancing to the Colorado High School Volleyball State Championship, scheduled for Nov. 14-16.
In the first match of regionals, Meeker will face the Limon Badgers at 1 p.m., followed by a game between Limon and the Sanford Mustangs. With a strong season behind them, the Cowboys are eager to continue their success and aim for a spot in the state championships. Go Cowboys!
By JARED HENDERSON
