Niwot, Mead Volleyball Teams Eliminate in State Tournament Round

UPDATE: Both the Niwot and Mead volleyball teams faced early exits from the state tournament held at the Denver Coliseum, with heartbreaking losses just confirmed on Thursday.

In Class 5A, No. 12 Niwot confronted a formidable opponent in No. 5 Rampart and was unable to pull off an upset, falling 3-1. The Cougars struggled in the first two sets, suffering defeats of 25-15 and 25-19, but showed resilience in the third set, winning 25-21. Unfortunately, they could not maintain the momentum, losing the fourth set 25-14. Niwot ends the season with a record of 19-7 and will now compete in the consolation round against either No. 3 Rock Canyon or No. 6 Ralston Valley.

Meanwhile, No. 9 Mead faced off against No. 8 Battle Mountain in the Class 4A bracket but also succumbed to defeat. The Mavericks lost the first two sets 25-19 and 25-22, before claiming a narrow victory in the third set at 25-23. The match concluded with Battle Mountain taking the fourth set 25-22. Mead finishes the season with a 17-9 record, and they will now face the winner between No. 2 Windsor and No. 7 Berthoud in the consolation bracket.

Last week, Mead showcased outstanding performance during their regional competition, led by senior cousins Rylee Klatt and Elena Gomez, defeating both Conifer and Steamboat Springs in thrilling seven-set matches.

As the state tournament continues, both teams will look to regroup and focus on their upcoming consolation matchups. Stay tuned for updates as these high school volleyball programs aim to finish their seasons on a high note.