Volleyball team forced to forfeit playoff tournament after coach catches COVID

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Manitou Springs High School Girls Volleyball season is cut short after a one-week COVID-19 quarantine ends three hours too late to play in regionals on Saturday.

The volleyball team tells KRDO Newschannel 13 it began a seven-day quarantine last Saturday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. after the coach tested positive for COVID-19. Their mandated quarantine ends at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. However, the Manitou Springs high school girls volleyball team was supposed to play in the regional tournament Saturday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m.

Because the team won’t have completed its full quarantine by then, they’re forced to forfeit playoff play. In turn, the volleyball team also loses the chance to advance to the state tournament and be seen by college recruiters.

Manitou Springs High School Girls Volleyball Captain Katy Vance is devastated.

“When we found out we couldn’t play, I feel like I let my team down because I tried everything I could," said Vance. "I emailed CHSAA."

In a meeting with families Friday, Manitou Springs High School staff said CHSAA, or the Colorado High School Activities Association, would not postpone the high school volleyball tournament because it could set a precedent for teams facing similar issues in the future. 

“I just wish we would be treated equally,” said Vance. “Because football had the same problem and they got a whole new season. And they can’t move ours back two days. And I think for me that’s really frustrating.”

Katy’s father Keith is similarly disappointed in the season’s abrupt end.

“To see her sacrifice all that, and then have it ripped out from under her in the 11th hour, it hurts,” he said.

The team also asked the tournament host, Cortez High School, for a later game time. However, Cortez has its prom Saturday and says it needs to decorate the gym for the dance.