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Steamboat volleyball faces Glenwood Springs

Steamboat Springs — The Glenwood Springs High School girls volleyball team’s slow start to the year put it out of the Western Slope League race, and continued poor play left it in jeopardy of not making the district playoffs.

But playing loose and easy, Glenwood picked up its second impressive win in as many games Thursday, downing Steamboat Springs, 3-1.

“After starting the second half of our league season, we said we have nothing to lose,” Demons coach Sarah Ryan said. “We said, ‘Why not just play?’”

For the second straight game — Glenwood handed Eagle Valley only its second league loss Saturday — the Demons fell behind in the first game. Steamboat came out crisp Thursday, and with the score knotted at 11, the Sailors took control. The Sailors scored nine of the next 12 points to take a commanding lead. They went on to win the game, 25-15.

“We like to throw that first game out the window,” Ryan said half-jokingly.

From there, it seemed like any momentum the Sailors had slowly evaporated with each subsequent error.

The Demons ran away with the second game, 25-12, evening the match at one game apiece.

“And that’s what doesn’t make sense,” said Steamboat coach Wendy Hall, whose team had 25 hitting errors and 38 unforced errors. “We come out in the first game and played great volleyball. Then all we talked about in between games was keep the focus, keep the focus. Then that just doesn’t happen.”

Glenwood took control in the third and fourth games, winning 25-21 and 25-17.

The win improves the Demons to 8-8 overall and 3-5 in the league. Steamboat falls to 10-9 overall and 5-4 in league play.

The win also pushes Steamboat out of the race for second place in the Western Slope League. The team will have to win its final three matches to have a shot at third place in the league.

“We have to change their work habits in practice,” Hall said. “They’re having a team meeting Friday without me there. They’re going to decide how they want to play the rest of the season out.”

Steamboat next plays at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Moffat County. Glenwood plays at 1 p.m. Saturday at Moffat County.

— To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com