The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“We played our best game ever against Buena Vista and there is so much to be proud of in that regard”
By Than Acuff
All season long the Crested Butte Titans volleyball team has proven a new level of resilience and that was on display once again this past week.
The Titans hosted the Buena Vista Demons on Thursday, September 26 and fought through the first two games of the match but fell short in both 25-21, 25-17. With their backs against the wall, Crested Butte came right back in the third game of the match refusing to give up, winning the third game 25-22.
They still stood with their back against the wall as a loss would end the match and a win force a fifth and final set. Well, the Titans chose the latter as they carried their momentum from the third game into the fourth to win 25-17 sending the match into the 15-point fifth game.
“I would credit our rally back from being down two in Buena Vista to the amazing bench being as loud and supporting as possible and an emotional drive,” says senior captain Mandala Covey Bleiberg. “After a great serving streak, we really realized we could snag sets off of them. I would say the enthusiasm from that serving streak and the awakening of grit in our defense allowed us to rise to the occasion.”
Unfortunately, that rise came to an end in the fifth game as Buena Vista won 15-9 to take the match. Mia O’Neil led all players on the floor with 26 kills, Hailey Huresky tallied six blocks, Mattie Halverson led the team in digs and Covey Bleiberg racked up 25 assists.
“During that fifth game, we really tried to find that grit we felt during the third and fourth sets,” says Covey Bleiberg. “Sadly, we fell a little short and Buena Vista became a tipping machine. Sometimes, it just doesn’t happen. We worked so hard during that last set but Buena Vista prevailed.”
The Titans remained at home to host the Telluride Miners on Friday, September 27 and couldn’t quite muster the same resolve falling in three games 25-20, 25-23, 25-21.
“Telluride brought to the court a good game,” says Covey Bleiberg. “Although we lost in three, we were making fast plays and our defense was all over the court. I think what lost us the game was being too stuck in our heads, something as a team we’ve really been working on.”
Back-to-back losses can be tough, but the team saw what they’re capable of against tougher teams.
“Although we lost both, every player worked so hard during these matches,” says Covey Bleiberg. “Players were on the ground, we had some amazing rallies with blocks and tips and hits. Sometimes you just can’t knock out the win. Our effort was valiant. We played our best game ever against Buena Vista and there is so much to be proud of in that regard.”
The Titans’ season doesn’t get any easier as they still must face the top two teams in the league including a match on the road against first place Del Norte on Tuesday, October 8.
“As a team, we are focusing on the numerous great things that happened last week and simultaneously working on making more great things happen more consistently,” says Covey Bleiberg. “I for one am excited for these upcoming games and to see if we can keep this level of play up, which I know we can.”
