Battle Mountain Beats Eagle Valley in Gypsum Volleyball Rivalry

Aspen —Battle Mountain defeated Eagle Valley in a hard-fought rivalry volleyball matchup on Tuesday night in Gypsum. The win carries heavy playoff implications for the Huskies.

The match was tight. The score differential rarely hit three points. It hovered around a one-to-two-point difference. The teams traded blows. Diving digs and big blocks kept the crowd engaged.

Eagle Valley used the night to celebrate its nine seniors. The Devils honored Priscila Rico, Riley Weatherred, Reese Wright, Lydia Winkel, Sophie Topor, Terra Hasley, Ansley Hooper, Corah Pronga, and Marlow Silverman. Weatherred, who set the single-season kills record as a junior, had her grandparents in the building.

But the community spirit ran deeper than just one team. Eagle Valley recognized Battle Mountain’s eight seniors as well. Both groups posed for a group photo. The Devils gave the Battle Mountain seniors gifts.

Devils coach Brandon Boseman noted the character of his players. He said he was proud of how they handled the competition. He pointed out that the most important part of the season is still ahead.

Huskies coach David Cope praised the talent in the valley. He mentioned Vail Mountain, Vail Christian, and Eagle Valley alongside his team. Cope argued that an all-star team from these senior classes would win the 5A state title.

The local volleyball community is tight-knit. Many of these girls played together before splitting into different high school programs. This shared history adds weight to the rivalry.

Playoff seedings will be announced on Monday. Depending on how the season wraps up, Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley could meet again in the postseason.

The pregame atmosphere was electric. An electric-guitar duo played the national anthem at Eagle Valley High School. The red-out student section brought the noise.

Both teams showed class. The competition has been intense for the last four years. Boseman emphasized that his seniors appreciated that rivalry.

Weatherred called the night super special. She has played with her teammates since sixth grade. Seeing them all the way through to senior night meant a lot.

The match ended with a clear winner, but the process was messy. That’s typical for this rivalry. Both sides left the court exhausted.

Now the focus shifts to seeding. Everyone wants a favorable draw. But sometimes, facing a familiar opponent isn’t so bad.

We’ll see if that happens. For now, Battle Mountain has the win. Eagle Valley has the experience.

The next step is Monday. Until then, the dust settles.