The Summit High School girls volleyball team came into its game against Steamboat Springs High School on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in need of a win. 

After securing its first two wins of the season at a neutral-site tournament from Aug. 29-30, Summit added a third victory by defeating Evergreen High School in its home opener on Sept. 4. Since then, however, the Tigers have dropped their last two contests, including their first 4A Western Slope league matchup against Battle Mountain on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Wanting to get their first 4A Western Slope league win of the season, the Tigers dashed onto the court on Tuesday night and scored the first point of the game off senior Zoie Davis-Teets’ opening serve to the Steamboat Springs.

Soon after allowing a series of points from Steamboat Springs, Summit went on a rollicking run that expanded its lead early in the match. The Tigers’ command lasted for a couple of serves, but the Steamboat Springs Sailors eventually tied the game at 6-6. The Sailors’ effort allowed the team to find the footing it needed, expanding its lead soon after to 11-8. 

Summit did not become discouraged by the onslaught of points from Steamboat Springs. Instead, the team banded together, scoring points on serves, blocks and spikes. It was a massive spike from Davis-Teets that gave the Tigers its lead back late in the first set.

Although Summit had a multiple-point advantage, Steamboat Springs fought its way back to eventually tie the match at 24-24. The two teams exchanged points late in the set, but it was Steamboat Springs who won the first frame, 27-25.

Summit responded to its loss in the first set by going on a major run. With sophomore Ruby Snyder serving for the team, the Tigers scored five unanswered points, forcing the Sailors to tighten up their approach. 

Summit continued to execute its game plan, leading by a handful of points at the set’s halfway point. Similar to the previous set, however, Steamboat Springs found a way to even the score and claimed a slim margin over Summit.

Not wanting to fall behind by two sets, Summit fought to stay within a point or two. Summit’s determination and skill led to the team evening the score before attaining a late, 29-27 set win.

Seeing its first set win since playing Evergreen nearly two weeks ago, Summit started the subsequent set by securing an early lead. It was not long before Steamboat Springs answered Summit’s call, though. In another back-and-forth affair, Summit and Steamboat exchanged volleys, waiting for the other to make a mistake.

Junior Baye Manske came up huge for the Tigers at the end of the third set. Not only did the experienced volleyball player take advantage of Steamboat Springs’ mistakes, but they also rocketed the ball into open space, bringing Summit closer to another set win.

Despite Summit’s best efforts, Steamboat Springs won the set, 29-27.

Needing to secure a win to force a fifth set, Summit rolled to a quick lead. Snyder, Davis-Teets, senior Saige Heflin and junior Torie Durloo all worked to score points that would pull the team closer to a second set win.

Wanting to end the match, Steamboat Springs clawed its way back from the early deficit in order to claim a two-point edge. Summit wasted no time in responding, tying the game at 17-17 moments later. A four-point run was the push Steamboat Springs needed to win the deciding set. Steamboat Springs recorded a 25-19 win in the fourth set to defeat Summit, 3-1. 

“We really held our own with our defense and got to a lot of balls that I thought we were not going to be able to get to,” sophomore Reese Melby said. “We got to (the balls) really good and played them out.”

“We kept the energy up, we swung hard and we were aggressive,” Snyder said. “Tonight shows that we are coming around as a team and as a Summit community.”

With the loss, Summit is now 3-6 overall and 0-2 in league play. Summit will now prepare to take on Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The match will serve as Summit’s third-straight 4A Western Slope league game.

The Tigers next home game will be against Rifle High School on Oct. 14.