Haxtun volleyball punches ticket to 2A State Tournament this week

The Lady Bulldogs punched their ticket to the 2A State Volleyball Tournament at the Denver Coliseum this weekend with a Region 12 Championship on Monday. Haxtun enters the State Tournament as the ninth seeded team and is set to face Del Norte in round one on Thursday.

Haxtun's road to State was delayed due to Colorado's winter weather. What was supposed to be Saturday afternoon Regional pool play was forced to be played on Monday, Nov. 11 due to snow that covered much of the mountains over the weekend, making it difficult for teams to travel on Friday and Saturday.

Monday's action put Haxtun on the court first with Custer County and then with Denver Christian. Region 12 volleyball action took place at Denver Christian, the home of the Lady Thunder, who earned the 12th seed in Colorado High School Activities Association Regional bracket paired by RPI ratings following the regular season. Haxtun came in 13th and Custer County entered as the 25th seed.

As the higher seated hosting team, Denver Christian took the court first, taking down Custer County in three. The second match of the day pitted the Lady Bulldogs against the Lady Bobcats from Custer County. Haxtun picked up a sweep in the first contest, winning 25-10, 25-20 and 25-14.

The second contest for the Lady Bulldogs put them against the Lady Thunder of Denver Christian. Haxtun went up two sets, taking the first 25-18 and the second, 25-23, but fell the following two, sending the contest to five. The Lady Bulldogs came out hot in the final set, making sure to leave their mark in history with a Regional Championship and extending their season to include the State Tournament, with a 15-7 victory.

Senior Jayleigh Bullard put down a commanding 34 kills in Regional pool play. She led her team with a .369 hitting percentage. Senior Bobbi Starkebaum registered 24 combined kills in the two contests followed by Emma Henry with 16, Maggie Kilgour with 15 and Josie Freeman with 12. Starkebaum led at the net with 10 total blocks. Bullard trailed with six, Freeman racked up five and Emma Lemesany registered four.

Kilgour and Lilly Lemesany led the Lady Bulldogs in aces, each sending over six. Emily Anderson tallied two aces and Bullard had one. Starkebaum served 100 percent in the two-contest outing, sending over a total of 30 serves.

In the back row, Kilgour led the Lady Bulldog defense with 29 digs. Anderson and Lilly Lemesany each tallied 19 digs in the back row followed by Starkebaum with 17 and Kelsie Hadeen with 16.

As setters, Starkebaum and Hadeen combined for 79 assists throughout the eight sets of action in Denver on Monday. Starkebaum registered 42 assists while Hadeen contributed 37.

The 2-0 Regional showing puts the Lady Bulldogs at 16-8 overall entering the final week of volleyball action. Haxtun is seated ninth at State in a 12 team tournament bracket released Tuesday by CHSAA.

Haxtun's first contest at State is set for 8 a.m. on Thursday against Del Norte, who enters the bracket as the eighth seeded team.

According to MaxPreps, the Lady Tigers of Del Norte are 21-2 and went 6-0 in their Southern Peaks League.

A win for Haxtun would advance the Lady Bulldogs to a contest later the same day against the top ranked Simla Cubs. For a complete 2A State Volleyball bracket, visit chsaanow.com.

Each of the five classifications will play their tournaments this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Denver Coliseum. Play begins at 8 a.m. each day with championship matches set for 6 p.m. on Saturday.