Volleyball Finishes Regular Season with Wins

Dominique Davis
The Paw Print

The last two regular season volleyball matched for the Grizzlies were luckily both home games in Plachy Hall on Tuesday and Friday night. With the regular season coming to an end, and an intense round of playoffs soon to follow, the Grizzlies were more than ready to bring their best game out there against both of their opponents.

With a huge support system and amazing fans, the Grizzlies were determined to play their hearts out and leave it all on the court, which is just what they did on both Tuesday and Friday night. The Grizzlies work day in and day out to make sure that their goal of making it to nationals is able to come true.

Tuesday night’s match up was against the Western State Colorado University Mountaineers. This was the second time that the Grizzlies have been across the net from the Mountaineers this year. The Mountaineers had nothing to lose and battled hard on Tuesday night, taking one set away from the Grizzlies in the 25-21, 22-25, 25-16, 25-12 victory in Plachy Hall. This win was ASU’s ninth straight overall win and was the fourth straight win over the Mountaineers in the last two years. Junior Megan Tapia (Pueblo, Colo.) led the Grizzlies with a season and match high 15 kills on a .444 hitting effort.

The Grizzlies improved to a 22-4 overall record and 15-3 in the RMAC. The Mountaineers fell to 4-22 overall and 3-15 in the RMAC. Senior libero Valerie Garcia (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished with a match high 18 digs. Senior Dominique Davis (Denver, Colo.) had 12 kills and Junior Megan Velasquez (Johnstown, Colo.) tallied a career-high eight digs.

Friday night in Plachy Hall was a special night for the team and for the two seniors of the team Valerie Garcia and Dominique Davis. Friday night was senior night in the Grizzly Den, where the two seniors were recognized for their accomplishments throughout the past four years at ASU.

Friday night’s match was a very intense one, as it always is when the Grizzlies go head to head with the Western New Mexico University Mustangs. The Grizzlies were able to come out on top with a five set 25-23, 20-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11 victory. Davis finished the night with 14 kills and 16 digs. Juniors Letisha Spencer (Rio Rancho, NM) and Deprece Washington (Johnstown, Colo.) also helped lead the Grizzlies to the victory on Friday night.

The win was the Grizzlies tenth straight win and allowed ASU to finish the regular season with a 23-4 overall and 16-3 RMAC record. Washington finished the night with 11 kills. Junior Megan Tapia (Pueblo, Colo.) and freshman Lindsey Stindt (Norwood, Colo.) had nine each. Gabriella Rifilato (Bayfield, Colo.) finished the night with 55 assists and 13 digs. Katherine Rifilato had 10 digs and senior Valerie Garcia finished with 14.

The Grizzlies will now focus on the first round of the RMAC tournament here in Plachy Hall on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. They will be playing the UCCS Mountain Lions for the second time this season.