The machine that is Eaton High School’s volleyball team rolled on against Bayfield on Saturday at the CHSAA Class 3A State Volleyball Championships.
The Wolverines lost 3-1 (25-5, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18) as Eaton (27-1) extended its winning streak to 20 matches with the win over Bayfield en route to a 22-match streak and an eventual state championship.
Kirstie Hillyer had 15 kills for BHS, while Suzie Rhodes had 19 assists. Maddi Foutz added 13 digs.
BHS (21-6) ended its fifth consecutive trip to state trip in pool play for the second year in a row.
Eaton advanced to play Pool IV winner Holy Family in the semifinals, winning 3-2 (25-10, 25-14, 23-25, 21-25, 15-11) to advance to the finals.
Valley and Manitou Springs battled in the other semifinal. Manitou Springs stayed undefeated with a rally from 2-0 down for a 3-2 victory over Valley, winning 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-5.
Eaton would go on to avenge its only loss of the season in the Class 3A championship match. The Reds finished the year 27-1 and with their second state championship in three years by downing previously unbeaten Manitou Springs, which beat Eaton at the Bishop Machebeuf Tournament, 3-0 in the final.
Bayfield didn’t miss a beat this season under new head coach Terene Foutz after former head coach Kelley Rifilato took over at Fort Lewis College.
The Wolverines racked up another undefeated Intermountain League slate and captured a regional championship for the fifth consecutive season, giving them yet another trip to state.
The Wolverines will lose four seniors to graduation but will return leading attacker Hillyer, setter Rhodes, libero Foutz and a host of experienced pin hitters next season.
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