The volleyball season ended earlier than expected for Glenwood Springs volleyball standout Amber Sutherland, but don’t expect her to be lolling around in her downtime before basketball season.

Sutherland, this week’s student-athlete spotlight, and the Demons were eliminated from postseason play last weekend at the district tournament. The Glenwood spikers, however, posted another solid season – particularly the junior hitter.

Sutherland led the Demons, who finished the year 18-4, in kills and was named first-team All-Western Slope League. Obviously, she would like to be playing again this weekend at the regional tournament, but the season certainly wasn’t a loss.

“This year I just basically tried to perfect my game,” Sutherland said. “Against Steamboat (in the district semifinals) I placed the ball really well and they didn’t block me.”

Now Sutherland shifts her focus to basketball. She took last year off from the hardcourt to give sore knees and mental fatigue a chance to mend, but she’s looking forward to getting back on the court this season.

Sutherland is hoping to land the starting spot in the post for the Demons, and the early exit from the volleyball postseason gives her a chance to regain her shooting touch after more than a year away from the game.

Prep basketball officially begins practice Nov. 14 and until then Sutherland said she will probably “lift (weights) and shoot the ball, since I haven’t done that in a year.”

And, of course, her athletics continue into the spring. Sutherland is the school record-holder in the discus and also qualified for the state meet last year in shot put and triple jump.

When she isn’t working on perfecting her own techniques in her various athletic endeavors, she also has to make time to mentor the next Sutherland in the line. Her sister, Courtney, is currently a freshman and following in the footsteps of her older sibling.

“My mom has been telling me to help her out with her sports,” Sutherland said.