New year, new coach, same story.
The Bayfield High School volleyball team will host the Class 3A Region 8 tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, marking the sixth consecutive year the Wolverines have opened the postseason in their own gym.
An 18-5 mark under first-year head coach Terene Foutz and another 8-0 romp through the Intermountain League earned BHS the No. 8 seed when the regions were revealed Monday, and No. 17 Frontier Academy and No. 29 Colorado Academy will be in Bayfield on Saturday.
The winner of the three-team pool will advance to state Nov. 8 and 9 in Denver, and Bayfield has advanced to state the last four years.
Frontier Academy, out of Greeley, finished 12-11 overall this season. This crop of Wolverines is led by Emily Heckel, who had 148 kills to lead the team to go with 120 digs. Bri Lambert is Frontier Academy’s top defensive threat, leading the team with 212 digs this season.
Denver’s Colorado Academy, meanwhile, was 8-14 this season. Devyn Meunier led the way for the Mustangs with 276 kills, while Colorado Academy boasts four players with 175 or more digs, led by the 301 from Marin McCoy.
Bayfield is led offensively by 6-5 junior middle hitter Kirstie Hillyer, who had 293 kills in the regular season and an attack percentage of .406. She also chipped in 87 total blocks and 50 service aces.
The Wolverines are tough from the service line, having accrued a total of 301 service aces. And they’re stout defensively, led by 324 digs from Maddie Foutz. Suzie Rhodes has been on the money with her passing this year, as well, racking up 568 assists.
Play begins with Bayfield taking on Colorado Academy. BHS then will get a breather as Colorado Academy takes on Frontier Academy. The day will come to a close with a matchup of Wolverines as Bayfield will play Frontier Academy in the third and final match of the day.
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