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Devils complete perfect Slope slate by beating Steamboat

Eagle Valley's Becy Glutova lights into a shot against Steamboat Springs on Thursday in Gypsum. The Devils won in three to complete the Slope with a perfect 12-0 record.
Chris Dillmann | cdillmann@vaildaily.com |

GYPSUM — Can’t touch this.

Even though the Eagle Valley volleyball team wasn’t alive when the M.C. Hammer hit was written — and they were dancing to it during a timeout during Game 3 — the Devils completed a perfect 12-0 Western Slope season with a 27-25, 25-18, 25-20 win over Steamboat Springs on Thursday night in Gyspum.

In Eagle Valley’s 12 matches within the Slope, the team only dropped two sets — one at Steamboat and the other against Battle Mountain.



“It was way before they were born, but their coach loves the ’80s music,” said aforementioned Devils coach Jackie Rindy. “Considering our starting center wasn’t here tonight — (Molly Jewett) rolled her ankle on Monday and is in a boot. We pulled up our JV setter, Erin Keeney, and she rocked.”

The next stop is three more games at the weekend’s tournament at Evergreen, followed by what the Devils hope is a long postseason run, particularly with Jewett seemingly on the mend.

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Happy Senior Night

And with the very important caveat that the Devils (18-2) intend to keep playing for a while, happy Senior Night to the Devils’ Jewett, Alyssa Ortega and Kylie Martin. In addition to the traditional flowers and hugs, this trio had some slick posters of themselves hanging on the north side of the gym.

“It was so much fun,” Martin said. “We had so much energy. And with Molly being hurt, Erin didn’t miss a beat. She came in and played so well. We’re so proud of her.”

Eagle Valley entered the evening No. 2 in Class 4A in the rating-percentage index. While the Devils final postseason seed is still to be determined, they look safely within the position — top 12 — to host a regional tournament the weekend after next.

Meanwhile, Steamboat (10-12 overall and 5-6 in the Slope) started Thursday at No. 29, perhaps a precarious position, given that the top-32 teams in the state in 4A qualify for regionals.

Sailors coach Wendy Hall says she feels relatively good about her team’s chances of making regionals.

“We’re looking for an opportunity to get our kids some regional experience,” she said. “We need to take care of business on Saturday, so we give those kids that opportunity. We’re a young team and I think we’re worthy of competing with good teams.”

The Sailors close the regular season on Saturday at home against Rifle.


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