JULESBURG – Momentum keeps surging through the Mancos volleyball program, and it doesn’t appear to have an end in sight.
For the third straight year, the Jays posted a winning record, qualifying for regionals for the fourth consecutive season. Then, after toppling San Juan Basin League and fellow Region 2 foe Telluride, 3-1, in their opening match of the regionals, the Jays had a shot at making their second straight 2A state tournament appearance.
No. 2 seed and regional host Sedgwick County denied the No. 23 seed Bluejays from climbing all the way back to state, but not without a fight. The Jays surged in the third set after trailing 2-0, but couldn’t quite extend their match against the Cougars and avoid the sweep.
Their opening match against the Miners mirrored several of the back-and-forth sets that the two teams shared during league play. After THS took the opening set, Mancos (17-8) responded with three straight to set up their winner-take-all match against Sedgwick.
In spite of the loss, first-year head coach Brianna Wyatt returns virtually her entire lineup as Mancos looks to continue to be a force in the SJBL scene.
Sedgwick County, meanwhile, joins 11 other regional champions for the 2A state tournament next weekend at the Denver Coliseum.
