The Nucla Mustangs are having success on the court, and head coach for the girls Debbie Wytulka shared with the Forum details about how it’s going. On the roster for varsity this week are libero Maggie Andrews (2), along with Josey Herland (5), Kynnlie McCabe (6), Kyra Redd (7), Shay Snyder (11), Maddie Larsen (13), Peyton Nasland (14), Lantry Galley (15), Sydney Tomlinson (16), Skylee Vose (18), Kaydance Larsen (20) and Eden Saxton (21).
Wytulka said the varsity roster changes from week to week, as she rewards JV girls for their performance.
For JV this week, it’s Cooper Andrews (1), Remi Long (3), Jocelyn Vose (4), Josey Herland (5), Kynnlie McCabe (6), Kyra Redd (7), Maddie Larsen (13), Sydney Tomlinson (16), Savannah Norris (17), Skylee Vose (18), Eden Saxton (21) and Sabry Bray (22).
According to MaxPreps online, as of press time, the girls are 7-5 overall and 1-1 in San Juan Basin League play.
“We have been to three tournaments so far,” Wytulka said. “We lost a close one versus Custer County at their tournament, lost a close one versus Olathe in the Crested Butte tourney and then we won all three matches at the Soroco tourney. We lost another close one last Thursday in Monticello. We have been playing some good teams."
Coach added that having 17 girls in the gym does create competition, which pushes the girls to improve their skills on a daily basis. As far as team challenges go, she said she’d have to say “being consistent is the challenge,” and that’s something the team is working on.
Berrie Reams has been coaching with Wytulka for the last eight years. She’s assisting again.
“We compliment each other well,” Wytulka said.
Berlynn Tomlinson and Lacie Larsen are the team managers, and coach said they are “great helpers on game day,” doing the scorebook, Facebook live stream and more.
The Mustangs have been shouted out in the Mile High Prep Report online in the last few weeks. Coach said the Mile High Prep Report compiles a list of the top leaders in statistics for each classification, and that’s done weekly.
“At one point Lantry (Galley) was in the Top 10 of the 1A division for kills,” she said. “Josey Herland was in there for serving aces; Peyton Naslund for assists.”
As of press time, Galley was team leader for kills per set, hitting percentage and total blocks, according to Maxpreps online. Andrews was leading digs per set; Snyder was leading in serving aces and aces per set.
Right now, the team goals are to make the regional tournament and then the state tournament. “We are also working on a champion mentality, where the things we do follow that,” Wytulka said. “The girls chose the following words for our team shirts: Courage Hustle Accountability Morals Passion.”
The anagram spells “champ.”
Yesterday, Sept. 16, the girls faced Dolores at home. This Saturday, Sept. 20, they will travel to play Mancos. The girls will play through October, and since they don’t combine locally for volleyball will be meeting Norwood on the court.
