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Glenwood Springs — The Steamboat Springs Sailors girls volleyball team opened its 2009 season Friday with a convincing win against West Grand in the Demon Invitational in Glenwood Springs.

The Sailors downed the Mustangs, 25-20, 25-11, in the best-of-three match.

The tournament continues today. Steamboat faces Denver Christian at 9 a.m. and Grand Junction High at noon to complete pool play. The Sailors will play a third match today that will be determined by their finish in pool play.

Things started slowly for Steamboat. Senior setter Colleen King, the Western Slope League's Player of the Year in 2008, has battled mononucleosis this summer, and coach Wendy Hall kept her out of Friday's first game against West Grand.

Without King, Hall tried a variety of player combinations on the court, with junior Jenna Peters handling the setting duties.

"This weekend, I feel like, is my last opportunity to do trial and error before we get into the regular season and league play," Hall said.

Steamboat and Kremmling traded points in the first game - neither team was able to build more than a two-point lead - until the teams found themselves knotted at 20. The Sailors then went on their first extended run of the season, scoring five straight points off the serve of sophomore Maggie Stanford to win the game.

Serving was a high point for the Sailors - they were 46 of 47 serving in Friday's match.

King played in game 2, which was never really in doubt. With King setting and consistent hitting from Kelsey Butler and Devin Wilkinson, the Sailors ran out to leads of 8-2 and 12-5. Then, with Butler serving, the Sailors reeled off eight straight points for a 20-6 lead.

After a couple of West Grand Points, King finished the match by serving three straight points for the Sailors.

"I feel better than I did last weekend (when the Sailors scrimmaged three teams)," King said. "So I guess that means I'm on the mend."

Hall and King agreed that King's health is a day-by-day matter. The goal is to have King ready to go by Sept. 17 when the Sailors go back to Glenwood Springs for their Western Slope League opener.

For now, Hall is happy to get the first game out of the way.

"Overall, I'm pleased," Hall said. "We really cleaned some things up from last Saturday's scrimmages."