A week that saw the Colusa RedHawks suffer their first setback of the season, a five set loss to Orland,
the No.1 ranked NSCIF Division III team, ended on a positive note when they finished as the runner up at Sutters prestigious Battle in the Buttes Tournament on Saturday, August 28.
The RedHawks busy schedule began last Tuesday with a 25-15, 25-16, 25-15 sweep of visiting Clear Lake, behind 11 kills apiece from Karsyn Gwinnup and Reese Roper, most coming courtesy of setter Abby Myers, who dished out 23 assists.
Roper also turned in a team high 22 digs, while libero Anahi Guzman made 15.
Colusa then faced its first real test of the season the following evening in Orland where they fell in five sets 20-25, 22-25, 25-10, 25-18, 12-15, making various mental and physical errors that ultimately allowed the match to slip away.
Myers handed out 44 assists and recorded 10 kills, while Roper notched a team high 20 kills, and Guzman led all defenders with 32 digs.
Carly Simmons ended the night with nine kills, Gwinnup tallied eight, and Leah Ferrara pitched in with seven to go along with serving five aces.
It was a costly loss as well, as Myers and Guzman were injured and unable to play in the RedHawks next contest against an improved Lindhurst team that pushed them to five sets before Colusa emerged with the win, although scores and statistics were not available.
Rounding out last week, the RedHawks went 4-1 in Sutter, downing Woodland Christian, Las Plumas, and Corning in pool play, before outlasting Dixon in three sets to reach the Gold Bracket final.
However, the 22 previous sets took a toll on Colusa, and they simply ran out of gas against a solid Bear River squad.
Despite falling short of the championship, Coach Kim Roper focused on the positive after the final match saying, ” Im extremely proud of them. We were short players and plugged others in out of position. We were exhausted, but we learned that if we play as a team, we will be OK.
Colusa (7-2) hosted Gridley on Tuesday, travels back to Sutter to play the Huskies tonight, and then hits the road on Saturday to participate in the Dixon Tournament.–
