The Maverick volleyball team just completed one of their best seasons in program history. The Mavericks finished with their second-most wins since 2014, with a 22-7 record, and they qualified for their tenth NCAA Postseason Tournament Appearance.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) was consistently ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll – in which coaches vote on the best teams in the country. CMU finished as the 18 best team in the country as of the latest vote. Head coach Dave Fleming notched his 17 winning season and ninth tournament appearance in his 18 years.
Of course, most of the credit goes to the players on the court. Three Maverick players received 2022 All-South Central Region distinctions and seven were named as All-RMAC honorees.
The Mavericks started the season strong with an 11-4 record during Aug. and Sept. and swept five RMAC opponents in that stretch. The squad found their groove in Oct., however, and won 10 straight matches.
Their most significant win came against then-number 21-ranked Colorado School of Mines during an Oct. 29 senior night sweep. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Sierra Hunt had 15 kills and redshirt senior Tye Wedhorn recorded 12 of her own. The win temporarily placed the team second in the conference, behind number two nationally-ranked Metro State University-Denver (MSUD).
The Mavericks dropped to the third RMAC seed after a hard-fought away showdown at Regis University, however, losing three sets to two during their last regular season match on Nov. 5.
CMU quickly bounced back by defeating Colorado Christian University – their ninth straight over the Cougars – in the first round of the RMAC Tournament.
However, Regis University once again dropped the Mavericks on the next day, though, leaving their NCAA Postseason Tournament hopes in the hands of the NCAA Selection Committee.
The team heard their name called for the tournament bid, and were seeded fifth, pinning them against fourth-seeded Dallas Baptist University (DBU).
CMU managed to pull out the win and extended their all-time undefeated streak against DBU 8-0 during the first round three sets to two. Redshirt senior libero Kerstin Layman and redshirt junior opposite hitter Maranda Theleus led the team in kills with 14 and 12, respectively. Theleus and redshirt freshman outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett filled in for an injured Hunt and graduate student middle hitter Erin Curl during the tournament.
The Mavericks played their final match of the season versus MSUD in the Regional Semifinal. CMU took the first two sets, but failed to break the Roadrunners’ sturdy defense, scoring less than 10 points in two of the next three final sets in a 3-2 loss. MSUD won their 24 straight, while the Mavericks found themselves eliminated from the tournament for the second straight year.
Multiple Mavericks stood out this year. Hunt burst onto the scene and finished fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) for kills and points per set. Hunt reached the double-figure mark for kills in 17 matches this season, which was a team-best. Hunt was named first-team All-RMAC and as an honorable mention for the All-South Central Region Team.
Redshirt junior middle blocker Savannah Spitzer contributed both offensively with 248 kills and defensively with 53 blocks, the second best on the team. Spitzer killed efficiently and notched a .389 attack percentage which was 13 best in Division II. Spitzer was also named to her third consecutive All-RMAC team and first ever All-Region honorable mention.
Sabrina VanDeList recorded another acclaimed season. The redshirt sophomore setter distributed the second most assists per set in the RMAC, and recorded the second-most digs on the team with 241. The former RMAC Freshman of the Year earned her second straight first team conference selection.
Layman finished her fifth year on the team in style, and tallied a conference best 514 digs on route to winning her second straight RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Wedhorn led the team with 86 blocks and was fourth in kills. Wedhorn’s versatility was a major factor for CMU’s success. The Glenwood Springs product was appropriately awarded with an All-RMAC nod.
Curl was voted as an RMAC Honorable Mention after finishing with 52 blocks and 255 points.
While the Mavericks ultimately fell short in their quest for a national title, this year was still a success. The program set a record for players receiving conference acclaims and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The loss of veterans like redshirt senior outside hitter Maddi Foutz, Layman, and Wedhorn will be notable, but the team has plenty of young talent with sophomores Hunt, VanDeList, outside hitter Sydney Leffler and juniors Theleus and Spitzer. The team should continue to be an RMAC stallworth for years to come.
