The Summit High School volleyball is picking up steam as the end of the regular season looms. 

After only winning one match through the first half of September, Summit closed out last month by recording three triumphant wins. 

Summit defeated Delta, 3-1, on the road on Sept. 25, before traveling to a tournament on Sept. 27. Summit played a total of four games at the tournament, dropping the first two matches before taking the final two. 

The Tigers recorded a 2-1 win over Skyline and a 2-0 win over Pomona. With two back-to-back wins, Summit began the final month of the regular season by sweeping Rifle on the road on Oct. 2.

The 4A Western Slope league win pushed Summit’s record to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in league play. The Tigers tried to extend their win streak against Steamboat Springs on Tuesday, Oct. 7, but the team lost 3-0. Summit subsequently fell to Battle Mountain in Edwards on Thursday, Oct. 9, 3-0. 

Needing to get back in the win column in order to keep its postseason hopes alive, Summit hosted Rifle at home on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Serving as the program’s “Dig Pink” metastatic breast-cancer awareness game, the Tigers took to the court for a purpose bigger than themselves. 

With the game helping to raise money for the Side-Out Foundation, Summit’s varsity team got out to a quick start against the Rifle Bears. Sporting bright pink uniforms, Summit allowed a few points from Rifle before charging back to score a myriad of points in quick succession.

Junior Kyla Salthouse, senior Saige Heflin and senior Zoie Davis-Teets made an impact early, scoring on serves and spikes. By the midway point of the opening set, Summit sat on a 8-point, 12-4 lead. 

With the packed gymnasium cheering the team on, Summit expanded its lead over the second half of the first set. Davis-Teets and sophomore Ruby Snyder specifically displayed their firepower by exploding from the wood floor to spike the ball over the net. 

Summit secured a 25-13 win in the first set.

Wanting to win the match in just three sets, Summit kept its foot on the gas in the second frame. Similar to the first set, the Tigers allowed the Bears to climb out to a slim advantage, but were quick to even the score.

Junior libero Torie Durloo sent several blazing serves over the net to give Summit its biggest lead of the second set. From there, freshman Jade Close, Heflin and Davis-Teets converged to solidify the team’s lead. 

Rifle tried to interrupt Summit’s scoring barrage, but failed to score more than a point or two at a time. The lack of consistent scoring resulted in Rifle not being able to even the score in the second set. Summit took a commanding 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win in set two.

Wanting to attain its eighth win of the season, Summit wasted no time in climbing out to a multi-point lead. Davis-Teets, Heflin and Durloo were the unshakable trio for the team throughout the third set.  All upperclassman leaders for the team, the group of players spread communication across the court and helped the team fight for points.

Rifle did a good job at keeping Summit within 10 points for the first half of the set, but eventually the Tigers’ skill power proved to be too much. Summit went on an impressive run to close the third set, winning the frame 25-14.

Summit swept Rifle for the second time this season, 3-0.

“It was great to support all of our family members that we were supporting for this cause,” Durloo said. “We had a really fun game, and I think it showed our true mentality.”

“I think the win just makes us closer,” Salthouse said. “It is also pulling us closer to regionals which has made us really close.”

The win improves Summit’s record to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in league play. After missing the postseason last fall, Summit must win as many of its remaining games as possible to secure one of 36 spots in the Class 4A regional volleyball tournament.

As of Tuesday night, Oct. 14, Summit ranked 47th in Class 4A. 

Summit will conclude its regular season schedule over the next two weeks. Summit will play Glenwood Springs on the road on Thursday, Oct. 16. After that, Summit will host three-straight home games including a 1 p.m. game against Delta on Saturday, Oct. 18.

“I think we will just try and keep the same energy,” Durloo said. “We are bonding as a team like Kyla said, so I think that is what will get us to keep pushing.”

Summit’s final two home games will be against Glenwood Springs and Eagle Valley. The matches will take place on Oct. 23 and Oct. 28 respectively.