Yuma High School’s volleyball team is back in the 2A postseason after a one-year absence.
“We are really excited,” coach Jamie Nighswonger said. “Such a different end of the season than we had last year. The team is really excited about being able to go to the regional tournament. I think that is one silver lining to us not making it last year, is that we are really appreciative of the chance to keep playing.”
The Outlaws, 10-13, are the 21st seed in the 36-team field. The top 12 teams host three-team round robins Friday or Saturday to determine the 12 that advance to the state tournament next week in Denver.
Yuma is headed to Lyons on Friday, where the Outlaws first will play 33rd-seed SkyView Academy at approximately 5:30 p.m. and then fourth-seed Lyons. The Lions and SkyView play first at 4 p.m.
Lyons is 21-2, though the Lions somehow lost to Byers in five sets. It’s other loss was via sweep at the hands of Flatirons Academy, highly ranked in 1A.
SkyView is 14-9, finishing seventh in the 2A/1A Mile High, the same league as Lyons.
“The girls have been working really hard in practice this week,” Nighswonger said. “Both of our opponents on Friday will be good ones. Plus, it is also always a little intimidating to play teams that you haven’t seen before. But we will go in there with a game plan, and just play good, competitive Yuma volleyball, and we will see where that takes us.”
The Outlaws will be coming off a 10-day break when they head to Lyons. They concluded the regular season earlier last week at home with a 3-1 win over 1-22 Limon.
Yuma rolled in the first set 25-7, but then had a hiccup in the second, losing 22-25. However, the Outlaws regained their dominance with 25-0 and 25-16 wins to claim the match.
Berkley Nighswonger finished with 10 kills, Lauren Gonzales eight, Bailey Nighswonger five, Taryn Sheffield five, Novalee Schuetz three, Lindsey Hermosillo three, and Aubrey Black two. Bailey Nighswonger had 12 setting assists, Black nine, Schuetz five, Sheffield three, and Hermosillo two. Black was 21-22 serving with two aces, Sheffield 20-23 with four aces, Bailey Nighswonger 20-21 with one ace, Hermosillo 11-12, Berkley Nighswonger 9-10, and Gonzales 7-7. There were only four serve receive errors in 44 chances.
All nine of the Lower Platte teams are in either the 2A or 1A regionals. Wray is the 34th seed in 2A at third-seed Dolores, Holyoke hosts Region 5, Haxtun is the 31st seed at sixth-seed Sanford, Sedgwick County hosts Region 8, and Wiggins hosts Region 9. In 1A, Merino is the top seed, Akron the 21st seed, and Caliche the 13th seed.