After winning nineteen sets in a row, Fossil finally lost one to Chaparral, a small price to pay to win the second round of their 5A girls volleyball bracket.

Friday they move on to the third round of State taking place at the Denver Coliseum at 3:30 pm against Pine Creek. The Sabercats are just two games away from the Championship. 

Fossil was scrappy and aggressive in the first set, potentially the best they have played all season. There were limited errors and calculated plays, Fossil first pulled ahead due to Kaylee Piepo having a four-point serving run, setting the Sabercats off on a good foot. 

This continued as all players continued to dig balls up and some players such as middle blocker Erin Herrmann and outside Emery Johnson made excellent sets during plays to keep and use all hitters to get the ball over. 

Fossil was doing everything right and more, causing Chaparral to call a timeout 16-12. Nothing changed and Fossil held the lead. In a last-resort Chaparral called a timeout 24-15, but the Sabercats quickly won the set 25-15. 

In the second set, Chaparral came back, not letting Fossil lead again. The Wolverines spiked harder and passed more accurately but despite serving runs from Trinity Burchett and Ally Nowak, the Sabercats could not catch up, they lost the set 22-25.

This sparked more of a fire in the Sabercats and they returned to their first set form. Fossil maintained a steady lead and nearing the end of the set Hadlee Kaiser pulled the team ahead with her four serves. 

Although not the most conventional kill, Herrmann tipped over the net, barely going in bounds but just enough for it to go through Chaparral’s defense. Fossil won the third set 25-18. 

The Sabercats did not let Chaparral make a comeback this time. They did what they needed to in order to get the ball over and do it with strength. Fossil’s defense was picking up balls while the offense was sending them down. Fossil won the fourth set  25-17, one step closer to the next round of State.