The Wolves, the Class 5A runner-up last season, lost their first three matches of this season, a sweep by Ponderosa and then road defeats to Pine Creek and Doherty. That’s not an easy schedule, but Grandview lost only four times last season. Wolves coach Patty Childress knew she had to break in new players at setter, outside hitter and libero, but this season’s results still concerned her.
"I have been really flustered, trying to figure out the right combinations," Childress said.
Visiting Chaparral got off to a 4-0 start, but then took two losses at the Smoky Hill tournament. The Wolverines were swept in two games by Chatfield and ThunderRidge. So the nonleague match wasn’t quite what it promised to be a few weeks ago, but the star players still made it a contest of note.
Grandview middle blocker Erica Denney and Chaparral setter/outside hitter Mikinzie Moydell are both headed to two-time defending national champion Penn State, and both had significant statistics in the match. But the highlight performance came from a less-heralded player, Grandview senior middle Jill Anderson.
Anderson, usually a revved-up player, was even more hyper than usual on Tuesday, as it was her 17th birthday. Her present to herself was a nine-kill, no hitting error match.
"We were having a good time," Anderson said. "We were struggling, without any wins, but it finally clicked (Tuesday). We’re a young team. I feel all the other girls are working hard to get better. But everyone on our team knows exactly what to do."
Chaparral’s struggles are the talk of the Denver metropolitan area, but the Wolverines did show ability to fight back in a five-set victory over tough Arapahoe. The Wolverines were led by 14 kills and four blocks from sophomore Nicole Dalton. Chaparral had a lot of hitting errors, plus shaky serving against Arapahoe and
Chatfield.
Still, Chaparral was ranked No. 2 in the Class 5A Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps poll despite the weekend losses.
"I feel like all the pressure was on them," Anderson said of Chaparral. "They were the ones with the No. 1 ranking before the season started. We had nothing to lose."
Right-side hitter Morgan Gradishar, the only junior on Grandview’s team, also tried to forget that the Wolves were winless entering the match. "This match, we didn’t care about the record," she said.
Gradishar noted that newcomer Grace Gordon, expected to swing between junior varsity and varsity this season, continues to improve now that she’s a starting setter. Gordon, playing with a taped-up left hand to protect a floor-burned palm, still registered 25 assists and one ace.
"She mixed up her sets, and that’s what helped us," Gradishar said.
Grandview had several magnificent first-tempo plays to Denney, who also had nine kills, and more quick sets to the birthday girl.
"That’s a sophomore doing that," Childress said. "She did a good job."
On tap: Upcoming is another top-notch tournament Saturday, with the Eaglecrest Invitational at the top of the list. Three of the four pools have at least two tough teams, with Mountain Vista and Grandview in Pool 1, Colorado Springs Christian and Cherokee Trail in Pool 3, and Arapahoe and Pine Creek in Pool 4.
Eaglecrest coach Tanya Bond is exercising the host’s privilege by pitting her Raptors against Loveland, Middle Park and Weld Central in Pool 2. The latter two teams are in Class 3A.
Lewis-Palmer is putting on another notable tourney, with strong representation from varied parts of the state. The host Rangers are a strong team and might get a challenge in Pool 2 from Manitou Springs. Valley and Grand Junction Central might battle it out in Pool 1, while Ralston Valley and Windsor might be the contenders in Pool 3. Sterling and Pueblo West are other capable teams.
Cherry Creek tourney:
One good thing about this weekend is that volleyball fans don’t have to choose between watching the Eaglecrest and Cherry Creek tournaments. They’ve usually been on the same day, and some people have driven the dam road between Greenwood Village and Centennial in the past to experience both. Cherry Creek, though, has pushed back its date to Sept. 26 to observe the Rosh Hashanah holiday this weekend.
Recent tournaments:
Mesa Ridge is one of the few teams this season to win its own tournament, which took place last Saturday. The Grizzlies knocked off Canon City, Englewood, Golden, Mitchell and Pueblo County. Coach Sam Oerter said that’s the first Mesa Ridge tournament championship in the school’s 13-year history.
Akron won the Fort Morgan tournament, beating Weldon Valley in the championship. That’s especially notable, as Weldon Valley in the season opener had beaten Fleming, the two-time Class A champion, which went 33-0 last season. Fleming also just lost a tough five-setter to Otis, a very strong contender for this year’s Class A crown.
Faith Christian won the Overland tournament, a strong showing for a Class 3A team in a field with several Class 5A squads. The Eagles were set at setter with Kelly Tycksen, and the transfer of the Gibeau sisters to Ralston Valley led to speculation as to whether C.L. Hubbard might make a change to beef up the attack.
Specifically, fans wondered if senior Emily Weingartner might have to shed her libero uniform and return to outside hitter, which she played as a freshman. But Weingartner stayed at libero, no doubt helped by the performance of middle blocker Christa Sanders, who looked good at the Overland event.
Aurora Central excels:
The Trojans also played at Overland, and coach Kelly Hanlon was returning to her alma mater. She was able to show her team photos in the gym lobby of the powerhouse Trailblazer teams, when Hanlon became All-Colorado Player of the Year.
Central did Hanlon proud in pool play, with a 2-1 win against Vista Ridge, which Hanlon proclaimed as the Trojans’ best of the year. Central lost the first game by 20 points, but fought back for a 5-25, 28-26, 15-13 win. Outside hitter Sabrina Jones was impressive and Hanlon is encouraged for the future, when Overland transfer Dominique Stubblefield becomes eligible after sitting out the mandatory half-season.
One thing about Vista Ridge, though, is that the Wolves are in their first season of varsity competition and don’t have any seniors. Vista Ridge is so new that the warmup volleyballs in its ball cart aren’t even scuffed.
Smoky Hill surprises: This was a crazy one, as Chatfield looked unbeatable in sweeping Chaparral
25-20, 25-23, and then Rampart also looked great in defeating the Chargers 25-21, 25-23.Then, against eventual champion Cheyenne Mountain, Rampart blew a 22-19 lead in the first set, plus 7-1 and 16-9 in set two for a 26-24, 25-21 defeat.
Rampart, led by Jenna Kinzer’s eight kills, had been swept by Cheyenne Mountain in the season opener and showed vast improvement, according to Indians coach David Barkley. The Indians had to play right-side hitter Tasha Ray in the middle, as regular starter Taylor Michel was attending a wedding. Still, Ray was the dominant player in the match, with nine kills and two blocks.
"Tasha, to her credit, adjusted well to playing the middle," Barkley said.
Ray didn’t seem nervous at all, and seemed to intimidate the Rams into numerous hitting errors while in the front row.
"It was a challenge," Ray said. "We didn’t have the normal people in there, but I’ve played middle in club ball before."
Short players, big games:
Both Rampart and Chatfield had some of its smallest players come up with superb performances.Chatfield outside hitter/setter Ali Longo was great against Chaparral and then had 16 kills and two aces against Rampart. She is a four-year varsity starter for coach Stephanie Schick and also had some kills from the right side.
"We try to switch, and I get a lot of help from my teammates," said Longo, who is 5-foot-6. "I’m proud of the job they do."
Longo needs a big approach and sets in the right spot. A tight set with a 5-6 hitter usually means easy meat for the block. Chatfield’s Mary Pollmiller placed the ball in just the right spot for Longo to crush it.
Rampart libero Skylar Lewandowski is 5-5 and had 15 digs against Chatfield; Heather Sanders is maybe an inch taller than Longo and she had eight kills and 15 digs against Chafield. Lewandowski had a simple explanation of getting the ball up against Longo’s rockets.
"I just go in between my blockers," Lewandowski said.
Sanders hits much harder than last season, and also is able to display her defensive skills.
"A lot of it is weights, and it’s easy to hit with all the support from my team," Sanders said.
Rampart runs a 6-2 offense. Taylor Tanner is the sister of last year’s starter Alex Tanner, and Jordie Thornlow made a lot of athletic plays for the Rams.