Lexi Vigil, Sierra Dunlap and Norah Jorstad are ready to defend during the Mustangs’ Sept. 8 match against The Classical Academy.
One measly set. That was the difference for the Manitou Springs volleyball team in its quest to reach its first state tournament since 2015.
The Mustangs took the first set from Alamosa in the regional championship match on Nov. 6. But the Mean Moose won the next two before the Mustangs took a second set, pushing the match to a fifth and deciding set.
The Moose got that one to end the Mustangs’ season in heartbreaking fashion.
“We went in knowing it was going to be a tough set,” Avah Armour said. “When we went into that fifth set, we just couldn’t hang on. It sucks, but at least we went out fighting, which is better than just throwing in the towel.”
At no point in the match did it feel like the Mustangs (20-5 overall) were throwing in the towel. After taking the first set 25-21, they dropped the next two by a combined six points. It just turned into an extended battle that they couldn’t overcome.
It was a bittersweet ending for a group of seniors that had come close to reaching state one other time. They were freshmen when Manitou last hosted regionals and lost to Sterling, in five sets, to miss out on the state tournament.
Ashlyn Thomson was the only member of that year’s team who also played for the Mustangs this season. Lexi Vigil made her way up to the varsity squad the next year and Katy Vance transferred in as a junior last season. Ella Carrol also became a big-time contributor as a senior this year.
The Mustangs have a solid core returning next season, as Armour returns and they’ll get Grace Allen back after she missed this whole year with a knee injury. Ayla Flett, Lily Glass and Norah Jorstad all return in 2022, a season that the Mustangs hope will end in a state tournament appearance.
“We’re losing some key players, but we’ll have a pretty good lineup next year,” Armour said. “Playing those high-level teams going into regionals next year, we’ll have more experience and that should help us out.”