Losing only to vaunted Cheyenne Mountain, last season’s Class 4A state runner-up, at the Discovery Canyon/CMHS co-hosted Colorado Invitational last weekend in Colorado Springs, one could assume Bayfield Volleyball would be more than prepared to begin postseason play.
Not only did Bayfield revisit the site of its spectacular 2021 state championships effort, but it also performed at a similar level. BHS closed out regular-season action dominating 4A Longmont (25-17, 25-14, 25-16), avoiding disaster against 5A Colorado Springs Doherty (25-27, 25-23, 25-21, 13-25, 15-8) and rallying past 4A Mead (27-25, 22-25, 22-25, 25-13, 15-9).
Yeah, a 3-1 showing (CMHS went 4-0) inside The Broadmoor World Arena was solid, but perhaps not enough.
Which is why the Wolverines pounced on a chance to continue their fine-tuning against opponents also ramping up for the regional-phase of competitions beginning their respective classifications’ state tournaments. And not just any opponents; BHS (11-11 overall) chose to clash informally with 4A Durango (17-6) and undefeated 1A Dove Creek (23-0).
“It went really well,” said BHS head coach Terene Foutz. “We’re always looking to scrimmage in the postseason, and Kelley (DHS head coach Rifilato) called first. And we definitely welcomed Dove Creek! You’re not officially allowed to take score but it worked out … let’s say … well for Bayfield.”
Winning five of its past six matches, Bayfield – third place in the Intermountain League with a 4-4 record – went 6-3 overall during October in readying themselves for Class 3A-Region VI action on Saturday. And just as CMHS, at the time ranked No. 9 in the CHSAANow.com 4A poll, made for an attractive target, the Wolverines will have to topple a different titan to potentially vie for this year’s crown.
At Region VI, BHS will face defending the state champion University (Greeley), ranked No. 4 in the final regular-season CHSAANow.com 3A poll and seeded sixth in the state tournament’s initial round-of-36.
Third place in the Eaton-led 3A/4A Patriot League with an 11-2 record, UHS and decorated boss Jared Rudiger will enter the event 18-5 overall, having won nine straight, including six on the road.
“I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s a fair draw,” Foutz said, alluding to BHS being seeded 19th. “Obviously University’s well-coached; we’re ready for that, and we’re excited for that match. We’re all-in, excited to get in there.”
Now in his second year at University after guiding Patriot League rival Kersey Platte Valley as well as 5A Fort Collins during the past decade, Rudiger was named 3A Coach-of-the-Year last fall after the Bulldogs finished 25-4 and won their program’s first state championship. En route, UHS got through Bayfield in the quarterfinals, 25-15, 25-20, 25-22, and the crews will enter this weekend’s rematch having four foes in common: Platte Valley, Palisade, Longmont and Mead.
“The last thing I said in the huddle after our win against Mead was, ‘The second season begins now,’” said Foutz. “How we’ve approached this week’s practices, we fully understand it’s a ‘second’ season and the kids are working very hard; they’re playing good ball right now.”
Also in the mix will be 31-seed Rifle. Standing 13-10 overall, Julio Aguirre’s Bears most recently went 2-3 in Littleton at 5A Dakota Ridge’s two-day Eagle Invitational, then closed out regular-season play by sweeping Craig-based Moffat County to clinch second place in the Western Slope League.
“The kids are giving their team everything they have; they’re all-in and it’s good energy,” Foutz said, of her players. “They continue to try to solve volleyball, and in these late stages we’re looking to compete every point we can to the fullest. I’m really impressed with the journey they’ve taken this season; they’ve covered a lot of ground in one year.”
Action at Region VI, to be held in University Middle School’s gym, is set to begin at 10 a.m. with UHS facing Rifle. Bayfield will then battle RHS before challenging University – the showdown expected on paper to determine a victor bound for the Denver Coliseum and the 12-team state championships.
Champion of the 4A/5A Southwestern, DHS also competed at the Eagle and posted an impressive 4-1 mark. Seeded 19th in 4A’s round-of-36, the Demons will travel to Lakewood for 4A-Region VI play on Saturday against No. 31 Battle Mountain of Edwards (9-12 overall) and event-hosting No. 6 Green Mountain (22-1). Play is to begin at 10 a.m.
Seeded No. 8 in Class 1A’s initial round-of-24, Dove Creek will host 1A-Region VIII on Saturday, with 9-seed La Veta (22-1) and 17-seed Westminster Flatirons Academy (16-7) entering ‘The DawgHouse’ for action beginning at 9 a.m.
On Friday, Ignacio will attempt to survive the 2A-Region VI up in Edwards. Seeded 31st in 2A’s round-of-36, Shasta Pontine’s Volleycats (13-10 overall) will first face hosting No. 6 Vail Christian (18-3) at 11 a.m., then No. 19 Lake County (19-4) immediately after. VC and LC will then collide in the afternoon’s finale.
Mancos, the 2A San Juan Basin League champion in 2022 with a 7-1 record (IHS went 6-2), received the No. 22 seed and will venture to Region III. Joining the Jays (17-6 overall) and hosting 3-seed Meeker (21-2) will be No. 34 Heritage Christian of Fort Collins (13-10). Action set to begin at 2 p.m. Friday.
