Sports Reporter
The CMU Volleyball team (11-17, 6-12 RMAC) welcomed the RMAC Western division-leading Adams State Grizzlies (18-8, 12-6 RMAC) for what proved to be the last game of the 2011 season. The Mavs could have advanced to the RMAC playoffs if they won Saturday, and if New Mexico Highlands fell to CSU Pueblo at home.
But the Mavs fell short, losing 3-0 (25-27, 20-25, 23-26).
Before the match, the Mavericks honored Antoinette McCormick, the only senior on the team.
“Even though Antoinette is gone, we have to do it for her,” sophomore Sunni Rae Baird said about losing their team leader to graduation.
Although the Mavs were the underdog, coach Dave Fleming said that he was confident in his team’s chances.
“There’s never a match that I walk into that I don’t think we can win,” Flemming said. “But on paper and in the standings, we’re not supposed to win.”
The match began with a nip-and-tuck first set. Adams State and CMU were tied on the scoreboard and the lead changed hands seven times. However, the Grizzlies would escaped with a 27-25 victory.
McCormick made the most out of her last game, starting with four points and 3 kills in the first set.
In the second set, CMU drew first blood again after gaining a 5-1 lead early in the set. The Grizzlies would respond, taking care of the second set 25-20, their largest margin of victory of the night.
Set three saw the Mavericks fighting for their lives. CMU went point-for-point with the Grizzlies, but they lost the set by two points, 25-23.
“We had a lot more fight tonight than we did all year,” McCormick said. “It just sucks to go out this way.”
Although the Mavs’ season is over, the team was proud of their strong effort in McCormick’s last match.
“Tonight we came out and fought for Antoinette,” freshman Tiffany Peterson said. “Tonight was about her.”
tlaporta@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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