After winning six sets in a row in the Regional Playoffs, the Sabercats secured a spot for State at the Denver Coliseum this coming Thursday. They went up against Fountain-Fort Carson first then Horizon, both games taking place at Fossil Ridge High School.
Fountain-Fort Carson started off in the lead, the score remaining neck and neck until Emery Johnson served, gaining an edge for her team. The Trojans forced the Sabercats to take their first timeout for the set at 20-19. This technique worked as there was a shift in the play kills coming from both Delaney Ewing and Johnson.
Fossil was just two points away from taking the set when the Trojans tried to ice out server Ally Nowak, calling a timeout at the score 23-20. This did not work and they were able to only gain one more point before losing the set 25-21.
The second set remained similar, with the Sabercats keeping a larger lead at the beginning of the set. Hitters continued to miss kills and although Fossil still had the lead, if the pattern continued the Trojans may have won the second set.
Head coach Natalie Burton called a timeout 15-12 and Fossil continued to work well after, with digs from Trinity Burchett, aces from Kaylee Piepho, and kills from Erin Herrmann. The Sabercats won the set 25-20.
After losing two sets the Trojans began to shank balls more along with serving into the net and missing hits. Amalee Doyle was able to serve for five points, securing the Sabercats lead when they defeated the Trojans 25-16.
Fountain-Fort Carson then played Horizon where the Trojans lost for a second time that day.
The Hawks then played back-to-back matches, the third game being Fossil versus Horizon. The first set remained close until Fossil called a timeout 14-13.
Burchett was a vital player during this match, making several digs that caused the crowd to go wild. Not only was she flying around the court to pass up balls, but served several points throughout the match.
“I wanted to get [the digs] up for my team because it was a really important game,” Burchett explains.
Fossil won with a score of 25-16. The Sabercats continued to stay strong in the second set, forcing the Hawks to make more errors.
In a landslide set, the Sabercats destroyed Horizon 25-8, the Sabercats just needing to win one more set before guaranteeing a spot in State. After a devastating second set, Horizon continued to fight but in the end neither their defense nor offense was as strong as Fossil’s.
The Sabercat girls won regional playoffs and now this Thursday will be competing at 12:30 pm at the Denver Coliseum, “I’m really excited, I know we’re going to do great in State,” Burchett says. They will compete against Castle View, whom the Sabercats lost to earlier in the season.
If the Sabercats win they stay at the Coliseum and will play Chaparral at 6:30 pm Thursday. The bracket will continue until a winner is determined at the Championship match on 11/11/23, this coming Saturday.
