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Bayfield rules volleyball regional, heading to state

Bayfield playing Greeley, Pagosa to start state tourney

Nothing's over until it's over, even in Bayfield.

Everything was in position for a storybook ending last Saturday, with the senior most synonymous with BHS Volleyball on serve - and two points from closing out her final match inside BHS Gymnasium.

But Buena Vista senior Tyler Lockett, playing what turned out to be her final match, period, denied the Wolverine faithful the satisfaction of seeing the what-should-have been with a determined kill. That gave the guests one last measure of hope, and BHS' Maddi Foutz was not one bit surprised. Not with both teams vying for a berth into this weekend's CHSAA Class 3A State Championships.

"We were going to expect them to play like Eaton, or to play like all the top teams," Foutz said. "In order to go to state we had to win today. So there's no way that we were going to overlook these teams."

Lockett agreed.

"This has been one of the greatest years we've had," the Buena Vista player said. "We have a lot of great girls, and it's just been a fantastic season. So we laid it all out on the court; we had nothing to lose!"

But one side had to lose the 3A-Region V tournament finale, and Bayfield made sure to quickly douse Buena Vista's rekindled fire after they had defeated Grand Valley earlier that morning. Bayfield finished the Demons off a with a 25-16, 25-20, 25-15 sweep and secured their spot in the Denver Coliseum. The Wolverines' first Pool 4 match is at 2 p.m. Friday versus Region IV champs Greeley University.

A familiar opponent awaits BHS at 8 a.m. Saturday, Intermountain League rivals Pagosa Springs, now 20-5 going in after conquering Region XII. Pagosa plays University (19-6) at 8 a.m. Friday-a time which Foutz hinted might often be Bayfield's toughest challenge to overcome.

"We're not exactly 'morning' people!" she laughed, reflecting on facing Parachute Grand Valley in the regional's first pairing at 9 a.m. "Our goal this week was to start strong, because we knew that we were going to play early. So we decided to have a team breakfast this morning at 7, just wake ourselves up..."

"It was a little early," she admitted. "But it's good bonding, to spend time with your team as much as you can. To know that you guys are in this together - you're not separate people, but one unit who works together."

Grand Valley found that out almost immediately in regionals, as the Wolverines roared out to an 11-5 advantage and never really faltered in taking Game 1 by an imposing 25-11 margin. Much like BVHS would do a couple hours later, the Cardinals managed to build up a bit of momentum in Game 2 before falling 25-18. Now properly awakened, Bayfield recovered to own Game 3, 25-12.

Despite the work of slugging seniors Bailey Rowe and Tara Ruggles, and the BHS-like serving of senior libero Taylor Mills, a 25-20, 16-25, 22-25, 17-25 loss to Buena Vista in the subsequent contest ended the season for Grand Valley (14-11). But it also took a lot out of the Demons, whereas the Wolverines were well-rested prior to the take-all match.

"I think we were all tired," said Lockett. "But we had a lot of passion and really wanted it, so we came out and did our best."

"Both teams have a very fast, quick offense, and they both swing very hard," BVHS senior libero Josie Scott said. "Number 14 (Foutz), she's an excellent player! And that was something we had to adjust to; there's a few teams in our league that play that way, but that's something that we're not necessarily used to."

With Bayfield taking a 9-6 advantage early in Game 1, Buena Vista Coach Jamie Page quickly called timeout, having seen how the opposition simply left GVHS behind after building up a similar first-game lead. But though her squad stayed closer on the scoreboard, a kill by BHS junior Sydney Gabbard put them down 1-0 in the match.

Juniors Brilynd Pence and Kassie Schell helped Buena Vista assert a little more front-row force in Game 2, but with Bayfield juniors Jade Pascale and Kylee McCoy every bit their equal, with extra support coming from Foutz and junior Ashley Mottin-who'd drill the game-ending kill for a 2-0 match lead-the Wolverines went out for Game 3 with overflowing confidence.

"Today, Jade and Ashley and Kylee ... everyone had such great kills," Foutz said. "We were going to do whatever it takes to win. We wanted to use that energy against Buena Vista."

The Demons finished 13-11 overall in 2016, while BHS will hit the Mile High City standing 22-3.

And with every Wolverine knowing exactly what she must do.

"When you're scouting a team you're usually like, 'OK, this is the person who can usually put it down so we need to focus on defending them,'" said Foutz. "But Bayfield's different; we have five different attackers who are on all the time! And if someone's not on, then everyone else is and we just make it happen!"

Pascale led the way offensively against Grand Valley with 11 kills (at .600 hitting), and also defensively with eight total (four solo) blocks and six digs. Foutz downed seven kills (at .438) and came up with 20 digs. McCoy smacked seven kills and was in on three rejections.

Junior setter Courtney Bayles had 34 assists to go with seven digs and was also in on four total blocks. Senior defensive specialist Miranda Talbot came up with 12 digs, and senior libero Emily Bauer came up with nine and also fired a team-best four of BHS' 14 service aces.

Foutz's 10-kill, 19-dig double-double paced the victory over BVHS, with Bayles booking 33 assists, Gabbard pounding eight kills, McCoy seven and Mottin six. Mottin's three solo and six total blocks were team-highs, while Bauer (17 digs) and Gabbard (12) were essential in dealing with the best Buena Vista sent over the net.