Late in the first game of the Glenwood Springs-Aspen high school volleyball match Tuesday night, Glenwood’s Amber Sutherland hit a thunderous shot into Aspen’s back row.

Aspen’s Jenna Collin was bold enough to get in front of the lightning spike, but it didn’t help. The ball careened off Collin and the force of the hit knocked her back.

It was a strong statement. And Glenwood didn’t let up as the Class 4A Demons overpowered Class 3A Aspen 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-9).

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“Whenever something like that happens it just fires the team up,” Sutherland said. “It gives us the drive to finish off the game.”

The senior finished with 10 kills and added four aces to lead the offensive assault, but was by no means the only weapon in the Demons’ frontcourt.

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The sophomore duo of Leah Hinkey and Leanna Lawson recorded four and three kills respectively. Lawson also had a pair of solo blocks and led the team with six digs.

Most important, with Hinkey and Lawson in the frontcourt, Aspen couldn’t shadow Sutherland without giving up easy kills to the two sophomores.

“We’re really good up front,” said Demon senior setter Celeste Cashel, who fed the hitters with 17 assists in the match. “Every position is good .. and we were playing well all around.”

“Our team goal is to not let the ball hit the floor on our side, and we did a good job,” first-year Glenwood coach Denise Greene added. “We have the offense, we just have to have the defense to support it.”

The Demons trailed only once in the contest – after giving up the first two points of the second game. With the victory, Glenwood improves to a perfect 6-0. The Demons won their season-opening Demon Invitational tournament last weekend.

Aspen managed to stay close through the early stages of the first game. Then, leading 9-6, the Demons went on a six-point run for a 15-6 edge. Aspen didn’t get closer than eight points for the remainder of the game.

Aspen scored the first two points of the second game, but Glenwood took the next four and was never threatened thereafter.

The third game saw Glenwood go on two runs of five points and two runs of four points to put the match away.

“We played pretty well,” Greene said. “We’ve been working on being consistent because in rally scoring anybody can beat you if you’re not consistent.”

Consistency will be particularly important as the Demons begin 4A Western Slope League play Tuesday at home against Palisade.

G.J. Central def. Rifle 25-23, 25-13, 25-22.

RIFLE – The Class 4A Rifle Bears gave Central High School of Grand Junction a scare, but couldn’t come away with a game win in prep volleyball action here Tuesday.

Central pulled out a two-point victory in the first game and a three point win in the third game to sweep Rifle 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-22).

The Bears travel to the Fort Morgan Tournament Saturday.