Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat's volleyball season came to an end at the state playoffs Saturday in Denver. But senior Jessica Fritz suits up one final time for the 2000 4A all-star game Sunday at Pomona High School.

Fritz, who was selected to play in the all-star game with teammate Jessica Johnson, will suit for the red team, which will be coached by Deb Calhoun of Pine Creek High School. The game begins at 2:30 p.m.

Johnson, a senior, will be unable to attend the event. She currently is in Italy.

The all-star game, which is sponsored by the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports, includes 16 players from the 4A conference.

Eight players will suit for each team a blue and a red squad.

Mullen High School coach Kris Bredehoft will be on the blue's sideline.

Joining Fritz on the red squad is Rifle player Lisa Samuelson, who won 1999 player of the year in the Western Slope Conference.

Samuelson shared the award with Johnson this season.

Johnson may be unable to attend the all-star game, but she said it was an honor to be chosen.

"I think it's good recognition and it kind of culminates the end of the season and lets you know that you played really well," Johnson said.

The Sailors, who were 24-6 on the year, finished the season on a tremendous run.

Steamboat made it to the state tournament, where it defeated No. 1-seeded Fort Morgan in arguably the most thrilling match of the weekend.

Steamboat won 13-15, 15-13 and 17-15.

The Sailors later fell to the Mustangs in a one-game tiebreaker that advanced Fort Morgan to the semifinals. But the win over the Mustangs, which was played on Friday, capped off a great season, Sailors coach Wendy Hall said.

Maggie McElhinney, a senior, said her Sailors accomplished more than many people expected them to this season.

Steamboat defeated 4A powerhouse Rifle at the district tournament and came within one game of making the state semifinals.

"We actually weren't predicted to go very far," McElhinney said. "Not that predictions are usually right, but we had an amazing battle against Rifle in districts which said a lot about our team.

"And we also beat Fort Morgan who beat us in the finals of state two years ago."

All of the Sailors players elevated their games to a higher level during the postseason, Hall said.

Johnson had a career-high 33 kills against Fort Morgan.

Abby Fritz, a sophomore, also contributed in a big way by making some key saves, Hall said.

The most impressive stat of the season may be the number of Sailors who were named all-conference.

Johnson, Jessica Fritz and McElhinney made first-team all conference and Lauren Dargevics, Bayli Stillwell and Katie Carter were chosen as all-conference honorable mention.

To reach Eric Rineer call 871-4229 or e-mail erineer@amigo.net