When it comes to crunch time in the playoffs every state champion hopeful needs a player or two to step up and calm their team’s nerves when needed.

Manitou Springs senior Riley Witham and sophomore Katie McKiel did all that and more in the No. 3 Mustangs’ 3-0 sweeps against No. 34 Grand Valley and No. 22 Pagosa Springs on Friday at Manitou Springs to advance out of the 3A Region 3 volleyball tournament and into the state tournament.

Witham finished with 17 kills in the Mustangs’ win over Pagosa (13-12) to clinch a bid to state after having to move to outside hitter this week due to Nicole Mack’s injury.

“Outside is a big position to fill and I brought my best every time and tried to go for it all every time I hit it,” Witham said.

It was a special moment for coach Carol Benedict to observe Witham help lead Manitou to victory after the team was unsure if she would be able to play this season following an ankle injury during last year’s soccer season.

“She is just such an awesome kid,” Benedict said. “We didn’t even expect her to play volleyball or to play at the level she has. I have tears in my eyes just because for her to be able to do that.”

McKiel came up huge from the other side of the Mustangs’ attack in set two against Pagosa with three powerful kills, including a block with the scored tied 26-26, helping the Mustangs escape 28-26 to a roaring home court.

“The whole energy of the team brings us together,” McKiel said.

Throughout the match, McKiel was a kill machine, winding up her right arm for 15 kills and a decent amount of intimidation.

“They’re really the best team we have seen for sure this year so far, and we played some bigger schools out in New Mexico,” Pagosa coach Connie Sue O’Donnell said. “If you can’t attack back against Manitou then you don’t have a prayer because you can’t stop that outside hitter (McKiel).”

Manitou defeated the Pirates 25-16 in the final set to clinch the state berth.

However, beyond the stat sheet Witham brought a calming, but aggressive approach to the Mustangs (25-0) . After falling down 6-0 to start the day against Grand Valley (10-15), Witham teamed with McKiel to lead the Mustangs on a 15-1 run to storm past the Cardinals in the first set 25-14.

Throughout both games the middle blocker could be seen encouraging her teammates and challenging them. In the Mustang’s 25-8 second-set victory Witham offered advice to an eagerly willing-to-listen Taylor Benedict.

“I am really close with everyone and they look up to me so I just try to be there,” Witham said. “When I was an underclassman I picked a senior to stick by, and I think it’s really important that they feel they can come and talk to me.”

Witham also showed an ability to not be rattled, which will be important for Manitou Springs as they turn their focus to state. At one point Friday night, she had a strong kill attempt blocked. Benedict offered a smile from the sidelines, and on the next volley Witham slammed home a kill for a 16-4 lead in the final set to the thrill of the Manitou Springs’ bench.

“It’s crazy but we worked so hard to get here,” Witham said. “It feels great to being able to say we made it again. We have had a lot of bad things happen but we can come back from everything.”