As the 2023 Colorado Invitational – co-hosted by Cheyenne Mountain and Discovery Canyon – began Oct. 27, the Bayfield Wolverines knew exactly what they had to do in order to possibly leapfrog a few teams and snatch a spot in the 3A volleyball state tournament’s opening round of 36.
Bayfield likely needed to win at least three matches against 4A- and 5A-level competition to have even an outside shot at qualifying. Then it drew 4A Cheyenne Mountain right off the bat, which resulted in a straight-set loss. It was also the first of three losses that weekend, but Bayfield didn’t go down without a fight.
Bayfield dropped the first two sets (25-14 and 25-16), but showed its true character by pushing Cheyenne Mountain to extra points in the third set before losing 29-27. Junior Kambrie Byrd had nine kills and six digs, while junior setter Tanna Owens posted 20 assists and 14 digs. Senior Meili Lovejoy came up with nine digs, while sophomore Lauren Rich and sophomore Maeli Quintana logged eight and six digs, respectively.
The Lady Wolverines carried that late momentum into its match against another 4A foe in Colorado Springs Coronado, a team Bayfield defeated at the Lewis-Palmer Invitational on Sept. 9. Bayfield took the first two sets (28-26 and 26-24), but Coronado stormed back to win the next three sets (25-16, 25-23 and 15-11) for a come-from-behind victory.
Bayfield junior Audrey Knapp put down a dozen kills, while Owens tallied 43 assists, 12 digs and eight kills. Sophomore Grace Barber also bashed eight kills, while senior Katie Killinen and sophomore Evelette Hollibaugh each had five kills. Defensively, Lovejoy thrived in the marathon match and amassed a match-high 27 digs.
After a night’s rest, Bayfield went back to work and swept 4A Woodland Park (25-21, 25-17, 25-22). Barber and Byrd each had seven kills for Bayfield, while Hollibaugh had six.
Saving perhaps their best for last, the Lady Wolverines went for broke against 4A’s Air Academy and won two of the first three sets. However, the Lady Kadets rallied by taking the fourth and fifth sets en route to a victory.
Byrd hammered 11 kills for Bayfield, while Knapp and Barber each put down nine kills. Owens had 37 assists and a team-high 19 digs.
Bayfield finished the season 6-17 overall and 3-5 in Intermountain League play.
