Step into the gymnasium for a Bluejays volleyball match, and perhaps the most immediate piece you’ll notice is the lack of peace.

As in, constant motion and chatter.

The energy flows nonstop through the highflying Bluejays, who sit on the precipice of the program’s best season in more than a decade.

For a young team that plays a constant rotation of talented underclassmen, the Jays turn to a trio of senior leaders who have seen both the highs and lows of the past four years.

Jessie Wallace, Shelby Jabour and Riley Cannon face graduation in spring, and the Class of 2023 hopes this season provides a fitting end to a wholesale revival for Mancos volleyball.

“The atmosphere in the gym is totally different,” said Cannon, “every girl wants to be here – and when we step on the court, we all have the same goal.”

Under second-year head coach Brianna Yeomans-Allison, the 2021 season offered a taste of what was to come for the Jays on the court – an energy that pushed the Bluejays to take more risks, keep more plays alive and celebrate each thunderous kill.

The team cohesion – both in celebrating successes, and also managing through challenges – developed long before the first practices of 2022.

“We’re such a tight-knit group,” said Wallace, “and we’ve grown together since we started playing the sport in third grade.”

“Our focus is on making sure that the team atmosphere is healthy,” said Jabour, “and to have fun while we play.”

Across the board, the Bluejays utilize balance in both the attack and on defense. Wallace splits setting duties with freshman Aysia Mathews, and the duo have set the Jays up for their most prolific hitting season in the past decade. The team is hitting at a collective .178 – or better than one kill for every six attempts.

“I know that my role is to be able to trust my teammates,” said Wallace, “and that I’m wanting to put them in the best position to put the ball away.”

Among those teammates looking to strike, junior Teya Yeomans ranks among the best in the classification in her hitting prowess, pacing the Jays in kills this season.

That strong offense begins with a steady back line, where Jabour anchors a hardworking crew that aims to put the offense in the best possible position to collect the point. “I love to dig in,” said Jabour, “and to keep plays alive that may ultimately end up with a kill – that’s when all of our teamwork comes together.”

The Jays head into their final week of the regular season with second-place in the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League assured, and a persistent climb in the 2A rankings to show for their efforts. Mancos rallied against 2A top-10 Sanford, winning 3-1, for their highest profile victory of the season, and now have an opportunity for another win against regional-caliber opposition when they travel to Colorado Springs for a regular-season capping tournament hosted by 3A St. Mary’s.

“Our program has been really consistent, from C-team up to varsity,” said Cannon, “and we’ve been able to reach our potential this year.”

Cannon stepped into a different role this campaign, seeing some limited varsity sets, but helping to guide the junior varsity program that continues to be the backbone of the program’s future.

“My leadership doesn’t just have to be on the varsity level,” added Cannon, recognizing how she could best contribute to the team, “and it starts from doing the little things that the younger players are going to notice and want to continue over the rest of their time here.”

“I remember as a freshman, I looked to the seniors,” added Wallace, “and now that I’m in that role, it’s fun to see our younger players grow – and to know that I helped them, and that they helped me get better.”

Wallace sees some similarities with herself and her head coach, “We’re all really competitive, and we’re all driven to get to the next level.” That energy has been infectious, as the Jays swarm to the ball on every play, preserving points that they may have lost in previous seasons.

With 14 wins and counting, Mancos already has their highest win total since a 20-win campaign in 2011, which also serves as the last time the Jays’ program made the 2A state tournament.

“The confidence has been one of the biggest differences,” added Jabour. “We don’t go into every point scared to make a mistake – we go in excited to make the play.”

All three Class of ’23 student-athletes have visions of collegiate pursuits, yet their role in the Bluejays renaissance will carry with them.

“Each of them leads in their own way,” said Yeomans-Allison. “They’ve become leaders in ways that we need them to help guide our underclassmen. They’ve helped this program by providing that steady leadership.”

Without a doubt, this year’s seniors have made an indelible stamp on the direction for Mancos volleyball.

“It’s all about effort and energy,” said Jabour, “and carrying that positivity through the good times and the tough moments – that’s what we’re wanting this program to be all about.”