Colorado volleyball state runners-up hungry for another shot

Call it redemption, taking the next step, or whatever label seems appropriate, but a pair of Colorado volleyball squads head into the upcoming postseason looking to win a championship trophy that they watched another team hoist last fall at the Denver Coliseum.

Grandview (Aurora) in Class 5A and Lewis-Palmer (Monument) in 4A both made their way to their classification's championship game, only to come up short and have to settle for runner-up status. But as the regular season winds down, Grandview and Lewis-Palmer both occupy the top ranking in the CHSAANow.com poll and head to the playoffs looking to accomplish something that barely eluded them last season.

Rangers coach Susan Odenbaugh said that, although her team hasn't really talked about it, she knows that last year has been a motivating factor all season.

"I think that when we lost last year, the kids took it pretty hard," said Odenbaugh, who has led Lewis-Palmer to a 18-1 overall record and the Pikes Peak League crown. "It has motivated us to work harder and to not take anything for granted."



Odenbaugh said she noticed a change in the team from the first day of practice, and the drills and workouts have been the most competitive she's seen in her time with the program.  While the Rangers have a marquee player in junior outside hitter Alexa Smith (300 kills, 150 digs, 30 aces), Odenbaugh was also quick to praise the leadership displayed by her two captains, seniors Abigail Bartalo and Carson Nicodemus.

"They've done a great job keeping us focused," Odenbaugh said. "They've really accepted their roles and really taken them very seriously."

Odenbaugh said the Rangers aren't taking a return trip to the title game for granted, and she believes that 4A is the most competitive class in the state. But she does admit that anything less than a state title would be a disappointment.

"I think that for any program that's competitive that's the goal every year," Odenbaugh said. "If we go out and play our best and get beat by a better team, we can live with that. If we don't win because we don't play as well as we're capable of…if that happens it's because we were feeling the pressure."

Teams that could derail the Rangers run at the title include Northern League champion Longmont (18-0) and defending champion Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) (15-3), which finished behind Lewis-Palmer in the Pikes Peak League.

"And I think Air Academy could be a real sleeper," Odenbaugh said. "They played the best defense of anyone we faced all year."



Grandview wrapped up the 5A Centennial League crown last week and heads to this weekend's Legend Tournament having won 13 consecutive matches. The Wolves scored victories against No. 2 Arapahoe (Centennial), No. 6 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) and No. 8 Eaglecrest (Aurora) during that stretch.

Grandview has a balanced attack, with seniors Morgan Montgomery and Kylie Copple, along with junior Haley McLaren, all recording more than 100 kills this season. Copple is also part of a strong setter duo that also features senior Alyssa Svalberg for the Wolves.

Another team to keep an eye on in the upcoming postseason is Continental League champion Regis Jesuit (Aurora), which went 11-0 in conference play while rolling to a 17-2 overall record. The Raiders have four players with more than 100 kills, with junior Santaisha Sturges (267) leading the way.

Defending champion Doherty (Colorado Springs) is led by senior standout Haleigh Washington (368 kills, 56 blocks), and the Spartans went 15-3 while capturing the Colorado Springs Metro League crown.

In Class 3A, defending champion Valley (Gilcrest) overturned a good portion of its lineup, but the third-ranked Vikings remain a threat to win it again this season.

Valley graduated four key players from the championship squad, including University of Wyoming recruit and classification player of the year Courtney Chacon. But you don't make your way to nine consecutive state tournaments unless the groundwork has been laid for continued success year to year.



Still, veteran coach Rene Aafedt doesn't like to take anything for granted.

"Our goal is to play the best we can every time we go out," said Aafedt, who also led the Vikings to the title in 2010. "It's a big accomplishment just to attend the state tournament. To be one of the top 12 teams in the state is a something special. We would love to get back there again and that's one of the goals we set. But we just want to keep getting better."

Junior Cori Aafedt is dishing out 7.7 assists a game, while senior Emily Dellenbach leads the Valley attack with 200 kills on the year.

One of the biggest roadblocks to the Vikings repeat bid may come from Patriot League rival Eaton. The Reds have rolled to a 20-1 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in the conference. Eaton scored a hard-fought, four-game victory against Valley on Oct. 17.

"Eaton is playing very well and they have an established lineup," Rene Aafedt said. "They're a very good team."

Junior Kortney Lockey leads the Reds attack with 277 kills (4.7 per game), and Eaton has 196 aces on the season.
Eaton also has a pair of good setters in Karen Sigg (321 assists, 5.4 per game) and Ryleigh Haynes (299, 5.1).



Manitou Springs is 3A's top-ranked team, as the Mustangs have amassed a 19-0 record and won the Tri-Peaks West. Manitou Springs has a trio of talented sophomores who have played well this season. Nicole Mack (239 kills, 4.3 per game) and Katie McKiel (226, 4.1) pace the attack, while Angala Jensen has dished out 432 assists, good for a 7.9 per game average.