Grizzly Volleyball Begins Converence Schedule, Hope to Rebound From Losses

Paul Pizza
The Paw Print
The Adams State Grizzlies wrapped up a three game road trip last weekend, that didn’t go quite as planned.  The Grizzlies were on the road for three consecutive days and had as many games.  All three games were the first league games of the season. “These games were big games for us.  We needed to win them, and definitely could have; we just need to focus and play to our potential,” said freshman Laura Loosbrock.
In the third game of the road trip, on September 18, the Grizz were in Kearney, Nebraska to take on the #12 ranked Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney.  In the first match, the Lopers dominated the Grizzlies, beating them with the score of 25-11.  The game didn’t get too much better for the Grizzlies, as they fell in the second match, 25-13.  Then again in the third frame, the Lopers were too much for the Grizzlies, as the Grizz fell 25-18.  Sophomore Dominique Davis led the Grizzlies offensively, leading both teams in kills with 10.  Loosbrock was second on the team in kills with five, followed by another freshman, Megan Tapia who had four.  Following the game, the Grizzlies dropped to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in RMAC play.  “ I think that overall we didn’t play as well as we could have, but we are getting prepared for this upcoming week,” said Tapia.
Golden, Colorado was the site of the Grizzlies second match on the road.  The host was Colorado School of Mines.  Going in to the set, the Grizzlies had a 3-6 (0-0) record.  The first match started off going back and forth.  The largest lead through the first 34 points, was 2 by CSM.
Then with the score tied at 17 a piece, Mines scored five straight points, giving the Oredigger’s a 22-17 lead before the Grizzlies managed to get three more points before the first match was over, 25-20.  The second set was a different story.
CSM came out aggressive and defeated the Grizzlies quick, 25-14.  For the third set, down by two, the Grizzlies came out on fire thanks to the great play of senior Mary McNeil, sophomore Valerie Garcia, and Tapia.  Adams State won the third set (25-21), bringing the game within one.
The fourth set came around and once again, the teams battled down to the stretch, but Mines prevailed to win the set and the match 25-20.
The loss was the second consecutive loss for the Grizzlies, and the second RMAC loss of the year, and seventh of the season.
To begin the Grizzlies three game road trip, the Grizzlies took on Colorado Christian in Lakewood for the first RMAC game of the young season.  After winning the first set, the Grizzlies dropped three straight to drop the contest in four sets (25-18, 27-29, 24-26, 22-25) and also dropped their record to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC.
The Grizzlies were in the running to be nationally ranked for the first time under head coach Lindy Mortensen until the losses. “It’s tough to come back and work hard to prepare the next week, but our team has a lot of heart.  We’ll be able to pull ourselves out,” stated Garcia following the three game road trip.
The Grizzlies continue their season on the road in New Mexico Friday and Saturday; they will face New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico.

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