Rye girls volleyball loses to Holyoke, ending impressive run at 2A state tournament
COLORADO SPRINGS — The No. 7 seed Rye High School girls' volleyball team was knocked out of the Class 2A state tournament on Nov. 13 with a tough five set loss to No. 5 seed Holyoke 25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 9-25, 11,15.
This ends the longest playoff run in Rye’s history since the 2018-19 season. This season ends on a sour note but the team kept a positive mindset as they walked off the court.
“We came together as a unit,” said head coach Jamie Donlon. “[In] their next step whether they are going into basketball, soccer, whatever, they need to take that team unity to that next thing that they are going. That never give up attitude should keep going.”
More: Rye volleyball continues its run in state tournament
Rye never quit or gave up hope during the match against Holyoke. The first set was a back-and-forth affair with Rye coming out on top 25-23. This gave the team the confidence they needed to stay in this match.
However, Holyoke would take the next set and began to put some pressure on Rye, being very aggressive at the net. This was something that gave Rye trouble all tournament long. The aggressive teams usually end up with the advantage at the net.
In the third set, the team settled down and won another back-and-forth battle 25-20 to go up two sets to one. Rye was running on fumes at this point and the adrenaline they had begun to wear off in the fourth set. Their worst set in the entire tournament, they had no answer for Holyoke’s serve to start the set going down 0-8 early and not able to recover at all in that set.
This set up the decisive fifth set against Holyoke with a chance to send Rye to the semifinals for the first time in team history. Unfortunately for Rye, Holyoke pulled away late in the fifth set and eventually sent the Thunderbolts home from the Class 2A tournament.
This was the deepest playoff run in school history, tying the 2018-19 team that made it the second round of the consolation bracket before being knocked out. This is also the most wins posted by the girls’ volleyball team in team history with 23.
The team came together at the start of the season with two players that have never played the game before, Sophie and Sydney Adamson. They also were heavy on seniors this year as well which added to the team comradery.
“Honestly when we first started out, we only had two returning starters,” said Donlon. “We had to put together a whole other team, and the twins I had to figure out how to upload everything about volleyball to them.”
The Adamson twins are athletic and took to Donlon's words quickly, putting together an impressive season. Sophie Adamson led the team in blocks and kills, finishing in the top-10 of both categories in the 2A Santa Fe League.
As a team, Rye finished second in league play. It swept its region and then began an impressive run in the state tournament.
"I think our end product was pretty impressive," Donlon said.
Donlon said the team's leadership, led by its seniors, was a key part in the run. Captains Morgan Elarton and Gracie Graham led the team throughout.
"Morgan and Gracie are my leaders with the voice," Donlon said.
But the gap that will be left behind after the senior's leave will be a big one.
However, Rye has a few impressive players waiting in the wings to emerge for them next season. Jordan Holgerson and Jaklyn Newitt are both sophomores that saw significant playing time this season and will look to be leaders on next year's team.
“They are natural competitors,” said Donlon. “I think they will have some fire to fire up whomever else makes the team next year.”
More: Rye girls volleyball keeps state title hopes alive with four-set win over Hoehne at state
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on twitter @chowebacca
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Rye girls volleyball loses to Holyoke just shy of state semifinals
