'Runners volleyball overpower Grizzlies in nail-biter
Metro uses fifth-year senior to set up two important road wins over conference rivals
by Nate Timmons
The Metropolitan
The Metro volleyball team finished their five-game road swing with two victories against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference West Division teams.
The 'Runners (7-10, 4-4 RMAC) upset the Adams State Grizzlies (11-5, 6-3 RMAC) in five games and cruised to victory against the Fort Lewis Skyhawks (4-13, 1-8 RMAC).
"We wanted two things out of this weekend," said head coach Debbie Hendricks.
"We wanted to pull the upset against Adams and then come out the next night and dominate a team (Fort Lewis) we should dominate," said Hendricks. "We accomplished both."
Metro was a bit shorthanded going into the two matches. On Monday, Sept. 27, freshman setter Gabrielle Curtis partially dislocated her right shoulder while diving for a ball during practice. She will be forced to sit out the two games, but the 'Runners have an ace up their sleeve.
Recently activated fifth-year senior setter Sarah Lively will take Curtis' place. "Sarah is a dynamic athlete," Hendricks said. "She does a good job making decisions and distributing the ball."
Lively was first slotted to be a student assistant coach this season, but with no backup setter and the injury to Curtis, her year of eligibility came in handy.
"We made the decision to bring her out of retirement," Hendricks said.
The players also recognize what the lone senior brings to the table.
"Sarah is awesome," said sophomore outside hitter Stefanie Allison. "She calms everyone in pressure situations and carries a lot of maturity."
Lively's first extensive role came against the Grizzlies, Thursday, Sept. 30. Metro wasn't a bit intimidated against Adams State and it showed. The first game was a dog fight.
"We had a couple opportunities to win the first game," Hendricks said.
Adams State, however, was able to capitalize and win by two, 33-31. Metro also dropped the second game, but it was not as close, 30-20.
During the intermission, Metro had time to think and mentally get back in the game.
"Early in the match we didn't have our minds made up," Allison said.
According to Allison, Hendricks helped get the Players' minds back on track in the locker room. Coming out of the break, Metro was re-energized.
"We got pumped in the locker room, our energy was very high," said freshman libero (defensive specialist) Taryn Drescher.
Metro used their energy as well as a higher hit percentage to claim the next two matches (30-27, 31-29) and force a fifth and deciding game.
The 'Runners were 1-1 in five-game matches on the season, but they found themselves in the same two-games-to-none hole they faced against Chadron State just four matches ago.
Metro was able to build a lead that Adams couldn't match. The 'Runners are now 2-1 in five-game affairs after winning 15-10.
"We showed a lot of growth and played a very strong fifth game," Hendricks said.
Metro traveled to Durango, Friday, Oct. 1, to take on the Skyhawks. The test there was for the Roadrunners to play with consistency and carry over its momentum from the night before.
The 'Runners were able to sweep Fort Lewis in three games and hit .246 percent as a team.
Metro's defense held Fort Lewis to the lowest three-game point total of the season (53) on their way to victory (30-14, 30-18, 30-21).
"It was a decisive win," Hendricks said.
The next three games for Metro are key RMAC match ups.
All three teams are in the West division and will have a major impact on Metro's playoff chase.
Metro begins the home stand Thursday, Oct. 7 against CU-Colorado Springs. They play Friday, Oct. 8, against New Mexico Highlands and Saturday, Oct. 9, against CSU-Pueblo. All three games are at 7 p.m. at Auraria. |
