Glutova one of six Eagle Valley Devils spikers on all-league

There are a lot of ways of describing Eagle Valley outside-hitter Becy Glutova.

Fearsome. Powerful. Downright-mean-to-volleyballs.

Here’s another — winner.

Glutova heads up Eagle Valley’s contingent of postseason-honor winners. It’s no surprise that she’s joined on the all-league roll by teammates Emma Lassa, Jillian Byron, Erin Keeney, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Shelbi Lubbers.

The Devils won their second straight 4A Slope title this fall, and to the winners go the spoils.

But, Glutova has a fun distinction — she played on league-championship teams in three of her four years at Eagle Valley. Yes, she was a varsity player as a freshman on the Devils’ 2014 Slope winner as well.

Glutova shared 4A Slope Player of the Year honors with Glenwood Springs’ Tye Wedhorn, and is also going to the all-state game on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Arvada West.

Glutova was just one reason Eagle Valley volleyball’s awards banquet earlier this week was a misty affair.

“I didn’t get through the first kid without crying,” Devils coach Jackie Rindy said. “It was a tough group to say goodbye to, for sure.”

Pick your poison

Any mention of Glutova terrorizing the ball and/or opponents must include Lassa, also a first-team all-leaguer.

The two created a “pick your poison” dilemma for opponents last few seasons. Teams trying to double-team Glutova on the block learned the hard way that Lassa was just as lethal, or vice versa.

What’s more, Lassa is a part of the coach’s favorite memory of the Class of 2018 volleyball.

“It had to be winning the regional tournament last year,” Rindy said. “Emma came off the floor in tears. We hugged and we knew that we had finished it. We were going to state.”

Byron is not a surprise pick. She’s a human cup of coffee. Probably just as important as her defensive duties, which she performed more than capably, she rallied the team on the floor or on the bench as chief cheerleader.

When Eagle Valley played loose, it played well, and a lot of that mood was set by Byron.

Setter Keeney had the unenviable task of trying to fill the shoes of the graduated Molly Jewett. Keeney and Bree Gates did a nice job of running the offense on the way to another title.

Lubbers and Fitzpatrick, both prominent in the middle block, return next year, good news for the Devils.

Huskies get two first-teamers

News alert: Battle Mountain’s Lily DeMuth is darn good at volleyball. The Huskies setter has been wowing opponents for several years.

Thus, she was a no-surprise selection to the all-league team. More often than not, she set up outside-hitter Avery Weaver, who is also an all-leaguer.

As the Huskies look to the future, Lillian Benway will likely be the focus. The junior nabbed honorable-mention honors.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934, cfreud@vaildaily.com and @cfreud.