A resilient Bayfield High School volleyball team saw its season end one win shy of the state tournament Friday.
The No. 23 Wolverines went on the road for Colorado High School Activities Association Class 3A Region 2 volleyball tournament. BHS picked up up a quick 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-8) win against No. 35 Florence to set up a showdown against No. 2 Lutheran immediately after.
BHS came out a bit sluggish in the first set against Lutheran and lost 25-16 before regrouping to play two highly-competitive sets.
Still, the Wolverines fell 26-24 and 28-26 to see their season end with a 14-11 overall record.
“I think we ended on a high note,” BHS first-year head coach Danica Frost said “I’m proud of the way we went out fighting. I wish I could have a rematch. I want a rematch.”
Unforced errors in the first set doomed Bayfield against Lutheran (22-3). But Bayfield rallied to fight point-for-point with the Lions the rest of the way.
The team showed unquestioned resolve, especially after a few injuries set the team back throughout the year, especially to star hitter Jade Pascale, who injured her knee Sept. 9 and missed the rest of the season.
“I’m super proud of this team especially the seniors,” Frost said. “This year taught them more than if we had blown through this thing, been top ranked and on our way to state. Resiliency is the perfect word for it. The stayed on top of it and stayed positive.”
BHS will lose five seniors in Courtney Bayles, Sydney Gabbard, Kylee McCoy, Ashley Mottin and Pascale. They are a group of players who have competed on the highest level for the Wolverines, signaling an end to an era of BHS volleyball that included players such as Kirstie Hillyer and Maddie Foutz, two standouts on the No. 20 Colorado State University team.
A new generation of Wolverines got an opportunity in 2017, and Frost couldn’t be more excited about the future of the program.
“Girls like Jannika Pope, Lana McKee, Tymbree Florian, Mavis Edwards, April Chamblee and Tess Phelps all saw great court time and did big things for us,” Frost said.
“Our seniors, they are tough to replace, but I’m excited to the in the gym with the girls coming back. They have great attitudes and work ethic.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
