Cottonwood volleyball takes a few bumps heading into region play
Oct 14, 2019 02:48PM ● By Brian Shaw
In the first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) released on Sept. 19, the Colts find themselves ranked No. 17 in Class 5A out of 29 teams in the classification. (Photo courtesy Rae Mulitalo)
By Brian Shaw | [email protected]
In a new region, the Cottonwood High School volleyball team exited a good preseason with some momentum.
The Colts wrapped up their early season schedule with a barnburner against Juan Diego Catholic High School. After dropping the first two sets Cottonwood showed its mettle, winning the next two sets to take it to a deciding fifth set.
In that fifth set though, the Colts dropped some big points early on—then tried battling back before losing, 15-5—resulting in their first loss on the season.
As region play opened, Cottonwood struggled to get out of the gates Sept. 5 at Brighton. The Colts fell 25-11 in the first set and 25-18 in the second. In the third set, however, Cottonwood again battled back but fell 26-24 to lose its second match overall on the still-young season.
The Colts returned home for a match against crosstown rival Hillcrest on Sept. 10. Cottonwood won its first set 26-24 and in what many expected would be a tight contest, eked out a 25-20 second set victory, setting up a chance to win the match in straight sets.
The Colts again stepped up in the deciding third set, winning another closely fought series of moments, 25-23. It was Cottonwood's first region win in 2019.
As region play continued, the Colts traveled to Skyline on Sept. 12. Cottonwood dropped the first set 25-21 before storming back in the second to win by the same score. But, Skyline then won the next two sets by identical 25-16 scores to drop the Colts to 1-2 in region play.
Another crosstown rival in Murray would come to Cottonwood on Sept. 17. Spectators wouldn't be disappointed. Murray eked out a 28-26 first set thriller before smashing the homestanding Colts 25-14 in the second.
That set the stage for another thrilling third set showdown, which Murray also won, 28-26. The loss dropped Cottonwood (1-3 Region 6, 3-4 overall) to the middle of the pack in what is still early in the season.
In the first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) released on Sept. 19, the Colts find themselves ranked No. 17 in Class 5A out of 29 teams in the classification.
If the state tournament were to begin today, Cottonwood would take on No. 13 ranked Mountain Ridge, pitting two teams against each other that have nearly identical, sub-.500 overall records.
For the Colts, who aim to get back to winning ways in 2019 under head coach Rae Mulitalo, that has to be welcome news, indeed.
