Following a home match during the 2022 season, Bayfield Volleyball head coach Terene Foutz took a brief but focused peek into the future of the Lady Wolverines. And liked what she saw, knowing that BHS’ junior varsity then would be vying for roster spots in a future which has now arrived.
“We have a very strong JV core, and … Bayfield’s going to be fine. We’re going to be very sound for the next few years,” she said. “I mean, they’re just putting in the hard work and they’re developing their game as quickly as they can.”
So with the grand ’23 unveiling scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 22, ending the long wait begun after a 3A-Region VI loss in Greeley to University, has the skipper’s confidence lessened any?
“Not at all. In fact, it’s gone up another level,” Foutz said. “A lot of the kids played during the winter offseason, and they’re arriving ready to work. We had a great summer; between all the kids we hit five college campuses, and we got as much playing experience as we could muster. I feel like they’re really ready to go learn, grow and compete.”
And though the new campaign will commence with four consecutive matches inside ever-expectant BHS Gymnasium, a roster looking to make and ink its collective name into program history will be put immediately to the test.
But hopefully not the sword.
“Yeah, we scheduled pretty hard. But I’m not going to pull back … just because we’re bringing in a new set of players; I feel they really do need to learn what a high level is, early in the season, and understand what it means and how to (fight) through that,” Foutz said. “We’re going to just go in full-throttle.”
Set to face none other than Durango – a CHSAA Class 4A State Championships qualifier last fall – on opening night, Bayfield will then welcome Delta (ranked No. 10 in the preseason CHSAANow.com Class 3A poll) on Friday and Palisade early the next afternoon.
“First time that Palisade has come to Bayfield? At least … while I’ve been here, and that’s been almost 10 years now,” said Foutz, hyped to square off against another 4A state qualifier. “I’m not going to wait to schedule difficult matches.”
At the end of the greeting gauntlet, longtime interstate rival Piedra Vista will drive up from Farmington on Aug. 29 to cap a fierce first week of competition. (Results from the Durango match were unavailable at press time).
Despite graduating seven seniors – including multiple front-row players, one setter, and one life-saving libero – in the spring, more than a few veterans will be back in the mix. Among those looking to better last year’s 12-12 overall (4-4 3A Intermountain League) record at present include junior setter/right-side Tanna Owens, junior right-side Kambrie Byrd and senior defensive specialist/libero Meili Lovejoy.
Middle/right-side Allia Connell was a potent surprise in ’22 and can return this season, along with fellow seniors Katie Killinen (middle) and McKenna Noonan (defensive specialist). Now-junior outside hitter Christiana Sutherlin’s availability, however, is up in the air as she continues recovering from an injury suffered during the girls’ soccer season – during which Noonan was also banged up – just a few months ago.
“We are in a (player) turnover … and we’re excited,” Foutz said. “They’re experienced for their age, they’re athletic – they’re eager to prove that it’s their time now. When kids get opportunities to play at the varsity level, I steer away from comparing them to other kids; it’s their time, I’m going to respect that it’s their time, and we’re going to see how far we can take it these next two years.”
