A great run came to an end for the Yuma High School volleyball team last week in the Class 2A State Tournament in the Denver Coliseum.
The Outlaws opened state play with a dominating win over Sanford, then pushed No. 4 Holyoke to the limit later in the day, only to see it come to a close early Friday morning with a loss to Vail Christian.
The Outlaws had upset No. 6 Lyons the week before in regional to qualify for the state tournament for the first time since the spring season of 2021. They were the 21st seed in the 36-team regional, and were the 12th seed in the 12-state state field.
Their fantastic play continued in their state opener last Thursday morning against No. 5 Sanford
It started off a bit shaky as the Outlaws quickly fell behind in the first set, and never could quite recover in a 21-25 loss.
However, they seemed to have shaken off the “State Jitters” by the end of that set, and rolled from there.
The Outlaws jumped out to a lead in the second set, and cruised to a 25-14 victory. They quickly took a big lead in the third set and cruised to a 25-15 lead.
Yuma was in danger of putting their fate in the randomness of a fifth set as they fell behind 6-11 in the fourth. The Outlaws turned it on again, though, closing the set and the match on a 19-3 run for a 25-14 win.
“I think the girls were pretty nervous on Thursday for our first game,” coach Jamie Nighswonger said. “There is just no way as a coach that I can prepare them for the environment in the Denver Coliseum. Beating Sanford in that first match was really important to me. I didn’t want people to think it was a fluke that we were in the state tournament. Because we were able to battle back, especially after losing the first set, I feel like it proved we deserved to be there. So I was pretty proud of them when they finally shook off their nerves and just played volleyball.”
Yuma had a .106 hit percentage, finishing with 34 kills. Berkley Nighswonger had 12, Lindsey Hermosillo six, Lauren Gonzales five, Taryn Sheffield four, Novalee Schuetz three, Bailey Nighswonger two and Aubrey Black two. The Outlaws also recorded six blocks. Bailey Nighswonger had 13 assists, Black nine, Schuetz three, and Sheffield, Gonzales, Hermosillo and Berkley Nighswonger two each. Yuma was 43-50 on serve receive, and was a perfect 75-75 on digs.
The Outlaws served 94 percent, 89 for 95, with 15 aces. Bailey Nighswonger was 31-32 with five aces and 23 points, Hermosillo 15-16 with two aces and 11 points, Black 13-14 with three aces, Berkley Nighswonger 11-12 with one ace, Sheffield 10-11 with one ace, and Gonzales 9-10 with three aces.
The victory put them into the Winners Bracket second round later that day against fellow-Lower Platte member Holyoke.
It started out like previous matches this season against the Dragons as Yuma lost the first set 13-25. However, they turned it around with a gutsy 25-23 win in the second set. They lost the third 16-25, but dominated the fourth with a 25-14 win, setting up a fifth set.
The rubber set was close throughout, but Holyoke prevailed by handing Yuma a 13-15 loss.
Serving helped keep the Outlaws in the match as they were 89 for 92 at the line (97 percent). Bailey Nighswonger was 23-24 with four aces and 13 points, Black 16-16 with one ace, Berkley Nighswonger 14-14 with one ace, Gonzales 14-15 with two aces, Sheffield 13-14 with one ace, Hermosillo 8-8, and Bryar Chrismer 1-1.
Hermosillo had 11 kills, Berkley Nighswonger 10, Sheffiled eight, Gonzales six, Schuetz three, Bailey Nighswonger three, and Chrismer one. Yuma recorded seven blocks. Black had 18 assists, Nighswonger 13, Schuetz six and Berkley Nighswonger three. The Outlaws were 80-87 on serve receive, and 72-72 on digs.
It was just that Holyoke’s net attack was too much as Raia Sprague, Anessa Colglazier and Reese Steggs combined for 42 of the Dragons’ 55 kills.
The loss dropped the Outlaws into the Elimination Bracket with a match against 11th seed Vail Christian at 8 a.m. on Friday. The Saints had been swept by No. 6 Swink on Thursday, but they were the blessed ones Friday morning. Yuma never could build up any kind of momentum at any point in the match, going down in three, 19-25, 20-25, 13-25.
Yuma still served well at 94 percent. Berkley Nighswonger was 13-13 with one ace, Sheffield 11-11, Bailey Nighswonger 10-10, Gonzales 8-9, Black 6-6 and Hermosillo 4-4. The Outlaws had just 25 kills, seven by Hermosillo, Gonzales five, Berkley Nighswonger five, Sheffield four, Bailey Nighswonger three, and Schuetz one. Black had 12 assists, and Bailey Nighswonger 11.
The Outlaws finished with a 13-15 record.
The state tournament concluded the high school careers of seniors Novalee Schuetz, Bryar Chrismer, Lauren Gonzales, and Bailey Nighswonger.
“I could not be more proud of my team and the way they decided to turn the season around,” Nighswonger said. “They showed a lot of heart, and poise, and confidence in how they finished the season, and I know we are building something that will last longer than just this season. I’m so happy for my seniors especially, that they were able to finally experience the thrill that is the state tournament.”
The 2A tournament turned out to be Simla’s show as the Cubs dominated Wiggins twice, and Holyoke and Sedgwick County (in the championship) to sweep through the Lower Platte for the school’s first volleyball title since 1996.