The trip to the Denver Coliseum for the Manitou Springs volleyball team didn’t end the way anyone had hoped, but considering it was the Mustangs’ first trip to the State Tournament since 2015, it was an important experience to have.
The Mustangs drew the No. 12 seed heading into play and dropped their first match to Alamosa on Nov. 10 before getting eliminated the next day by eventual state champion Platte Valley.
For the seniors on the roster, getting to state was an important box to check for their high school careers and a great opportunity to help set a standard for future teams. An important lesson for players returning next year and new players coming into the program could be learned from the 2022 Mustangs.
“Don’t take anything for granted,” senior Grace Allen said. “You also have to work hard during the season so that you can be rewarded in the postseason and make it to state.”
The Mustangs (15-12 overall) were able to keep pace with Alamosa early. They dropped the first set 25-19 before taking the second set 25-20. But the Mean Moose built early leads in the third and fourth sets, winning them 25-14 and 25-16, sending the Mustangs halfway to elimination.
Allen, Teryn Thime and Hannah Ruger led the Mustangs with five kills each in the match.
That elimination came when they ran into Platte Valley, which also suffered a loss on the first day.
But the Broncos would never lose again. They rolled to a 25-20, 25-18, 25-10 win over the Mustangs and would win every match the rest of the way to win their state record 15th volleyball title.
Ayla Flett and Ruger each had four kills in the match, but the Mustangs just couldn’t generate enough offense to hang with Platte Valley.
Nevertheless, it was an experience the team was happy to have and will leave the returning players wanting more of it.
“It was great, no matter the outcome,” Allen said. “Just to experience that with your teammates and coaches is something totally new that was great to experience.”