The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Final match at home Saturday, November 1
By Than Acuff
It was a tough go for the Crested Butte Titans volleyball team last week with matches against a couple of powerhouses as well as a tough league opponent and, in the middle of it all, they lost their top player to injury.
It started with a doubleheader on the road on Saturday, October 24 against the league-leading Sanford Mustangs and then an additional match against the Dolores Bears who were 29-1 heading into the match against the Titans.
“We hoped to learn how to transition from offense to defense faster than we have before in much quicker games,” says junior captain Mia O’Neil.
The Titans had their hands full losing both in straight sets as they moved players in and out looking to give the team the right amount of exposure to such strong teams. It also didn’t help that O’Neil, the number one hitter in 2A, was still struggling with an injury that was getting worse.
“I think we struggled with trying a bunch of new lineups and the confusion led to a lack of effort throughout the games,” says O’Neil.
Crested Butte got back on the bus the next day to face Trinidad hoping to turn things around against a more appropriate opponent. While O’Neil’s game was limited due to her injury, the Titans opened the match winning the first game 25-22.
“Mia is just so tough,” says coach Sheri Covey. “Even standing she was able to control the game.”
Unfortunately, she had to sit for good after the first game and Trinidad won the next three to take the match.
“The next three games were chaotic with my absence on the court and another new line up thrown in,” says O’Neil.
“Our serve receive just fell apart,” adds Covey.
The Titans then closed out the tough stretch on Tuesday, October 28 against the Gunnison Cowboys. The team was hit with a huge blow to start the match as they also lost Carly Ezzell to an injury. Nevertheless, Hailey Huresky, Tessa Wirsing, Maryn Pritichett and Haley Roberts all led by example and the team also got massive work from freshmen Haley Erickson and Barbara Siqueira. But the Cowboys proved too much as the Titans fell in straight sets.
The team hopes to end the season on a high note as they host the Ouray Trojans on Saturday, November 1 at 12 p.m.
“I have no idea what to expect,” says Covey. “We’ll see if we can get enough offense going to get them off balance.”
“We are excited to end our season playing Ouray,” adds O’Neil. “I will be cheering from the sidelines, doing everything I can to support my teammates.”
