Grizzlies hoping to take care of tournament-qualifying business

by Chris Day

Alamosa native Megan Martinez is one of three Grizzly seniors that will be honored before Friday's match with Mesa State.

ALAMOSA, Colo.— Nobody on the current Adams State College volleyball team has ever made the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s postseason tournament. The Grizzlies, especially their three seniors hope that soon changes.

And if the Grizzlies can take care of business during their 3-match homestand that begins Friday at 7 p.m. against Mesa State College, it will.

With just four matches left in the regular season, coach Lindy Mortensen and the Grizzlies currently sit 7-8 in RMAC play and have a full-match lead over Chadron State for the eighth and final tournament qualification spot. The Grizzlies, 11-12 overall, also hold any head-to-head tiebreakers over the Eagles, 6-9 in the RMAC, thanks to their 3-game sweep in Chadron on Oct. 10.

The Grizzlies have reached that position with some solid play over the last fortnight. The squad has won four of its last five, all in sweeps. The only setback was to nationally-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, now ranked second in the Southwest Region.

One of ASC’s wins in the recent stretch came last Saturday at Western New Mexico, which was ranked third in the region at the time. The 3-game sweep at Drag’s Court was the first time since the Mustangs, who have fallen to seventh in the regional rankings, were swept on their home floor since they rejoined the RMAC.

Friday’s match against Mesa State, 8-7 in RMAC play, is probably ASC’s biggest. It might also be the most memorable for Grizzly seniors Brittany Muchmore (Peoria, Ariz.) Megan Martinez (Alamosa, Colo.) and Leah Hill (Fort Collins, Colo.). Each will be honored during the team’s Parent’s & Senior Night festivities that will precede the match.

Win or lose, the Grizzlies will have less than 24 hours to think about it as the Grizzlies then host RMAC West Division leading Fort Lewis, 13-2 in league play, on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. ASC then hosts Colorado State University-Pueblo, which stands 4-11 in the RMAC, on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. before ending the season on Friday, Nov. 2 at arch-rival Western State, also 4-11 in RMAC play.