Manitou Springs celebrates winning the fifth set 15-12 to upset St. Maries Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)
One win doesn’t define a season, but it can turn one around in a hurry. That’s what Manitou Springs volleyball is hoping for.
The Mustangs (2-6, 1-1 3A Tri-Peaks) showed equal part grit and resilience in a 16-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12 home victory over rival St. Mary’s (6-2, 2-1) Tuesday night.
Manitou Springs was playing catch-up essentially the entire match, but never gave in.
“This is going to be a pivotal point for us,” Manitou Springs senior Shelby Hard said. “This team has an insane amount of heart, and I don’t think we even showed all of it tonight.”
Hard had 10 kills for the Mustangs, while fellow middle hitter Alex Riley ruled the net with five solo blocks and outside hitter McKayla Cully had a team-high 10 kills.
It took everything in the Manitou Springs repertoire to finally put away the team it loves to beat more than any other.
“We fought harder tonight than we have so far this season,” Cully said. “We want to treat every team we play going forward like they’re St. Mary’s. This one always means more than other matches on the schedule, and we deserved this win because we worked hard for it.”
Riley made several key plays at the net throughout the match, specifically in the fifth set. She helped the Mustangs pull away after St. Mary’s tied the last set at nine.
“This win can set the pace for the rest of the season,” she said. “We knew that it would take every ounce of effort we had, and that we had to go out and do what we’ve been practicing, and we did.”
The Pirates cruised in the first set, and built a lead in the second, appearing to be on the way to their first conference victory over Manitou Springs since 2012.
However, St. Mary’s allowed the Mustangs to tie the match two separate times, and then faltered in the decisive fifth set.
“We got a little complacent, and they took advantage of it,” St. Mary’s coach Chris Sweeney said. “They kept their energy up the whole time, and we didn’t. We need to be able to serve the ball inbounds when we have a lead, and take care of the small things.”
St. Mary’s senior libero Emily Broerman said it was fun to play in a loud atmosphere, but that the team has to learn how to execute better with a crowd.
“We walked into the locker room and said to each other that we need to use this as a learning experience,” Broerman said. “Manitou brought their best tonight, and we didn’t, so props to them. But we’ll use this as motivation, and sky rocket after this.”
Manitou Springs celebrates winning the fifth set 15-12 to upset St. Maries Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Shelby Hard, left, and St. Mary’s Taralynn Sweeney battle at the net during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs celebrates after scoring a point against St. Mary’s during the fifth set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Shelby Hard, left, and St. Mary’s Taralynn Sweeney battle at the net during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Spring’s Abi Boren dives for the ball against St. Mary’s during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Shelby Hard, in white, battles St. Mary’s Michaela Elliot at the net during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Alex Riley, right, battles St. Mary’s Jackie Delfeld at the net during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Jackie Delfeld celebrates after the Pirates scored a point against Manitou Springs during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Shelby Hard spikes the ball against St. Mary’s Jackie Delfeld during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ McKayla Cully defends the net against St. Mary’s during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Kylie Middleton defends the net against St. Mary’s during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Abi Boren blocks a spike against St. Mary’s during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Solange Nutter spikes the ball against Manitou Springs during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Solange Nutter, left, tries to spike the ball past Manitou Springs’ Erin Ihrig during the first set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs Erin Ihrig sets the ball against St. Mary’s during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Michaela Elliot spikes the ball between the defense of Manitou Springs’ Abi Boren during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St.Mary’s Solange Nutter serves against Manitou Springs during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Emily Wilcox tries to block a spike by Manitou Springs’ McKayla Cully during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Solange Nutter spikes the ball over the net against Manitou Springs during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Alex Riley celebrates after the Mustangs scored a point against St. Mary’s during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Erin Ihrig sets the ball against St. Mary’s during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Shelby Hard sets the ball against St. Mary’s during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Abi Boren sets the ball against St. Mary’s during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Michaela Elliot spikes the ball over a Manitou Springs player during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Emily Broerman celebrate after the Pirates won a point against Manitou Springs during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs players celebrate after taking the second set against St. Mary’s Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Alison Coleman celebrates after the Mustangs scored a point against St. Mary’s during the third set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Alison Coleman dives for a ball against St. Mary’s during the second set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Alison Coleman sets the ball against St. Mary’s during the third set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Manitou Springs’ Madelynn Ellis sets the ball against St. Mary’s during the third set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Solange Nutter has her wrist taped during the third set against Manitou Springs Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Nutter returned to the game shortly afterward. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s fans watch from the sidelines during the fourth set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Madelynn Ellis reaches for dig against Manitou Springs during the fourth set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s Emily Broerman digs the ball against Manitou Springs during the fourth set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)St. Mary’s celebrates after winning a point against Manitou Springs during the fourth set Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at Manitou Springs High School. Manitou Springs defeated St. Mary’s in five sets. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)
