Competing in the Class 1A District 1 Tournament in Delta on Oct. 28, the Dove Creek High School volleyball team defeated North Park and DeBeque to capture the tournament championship.
Opening the tournament against fourth-seeded North Park (7-15 overall, 4-9 in Western Slope League), the top-seeded Bulldogs (15-6 overall, 8-2 in SJBL) came away with a 25-9, 16-25, 25-19, 25-20 victory.
Sophomore Cassie Gatlin led the Bulldogs offensively with nine kills, sophomore Taylor Hickman registered a team-high four aces, junior Breea Meyer led Dove Creek in blocks with two, and senior Larissa Randolph led the team in digs with 20.
The Bulldogs then faced off against second-seeded DeBeque (11-10 overall, 6-6 in the West Slope League) in the tournament championship and won, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18.
Meyer led Dove Creek’s offense in kills with 11, Gatlin, Hickman and Meyer each pounded down three aces, Meyer registered a team-high four blocks, and Gatlin led the team in digs with 17.
Due to victories in its district tournament, Dove Creek will now host a Class 1A Regional Tournament in Dove Creek on Nov. 4. The top-seeded Bulldogs will open the tournament against Nucla at 10 a.m. and will play again against Sangre de Cristo at 2 p.m. The winner of the three-team regional tournament will advance to state.
“Our goal is to break the record for most fans at a Dove Creek volleyball game,” Dove Creek athletic director Shane Baughman said. “We’ve hoping that everyone that can come will come out and support our team.”
Admission prices for the regional tournament will be $6 for seniors and children and $8 for adults. Baughman noted that only Colorado High School Activities Association pass holders will be granted admission free of charge.