Returning champions ready to defend Colorado volleyball titles

Video: Xcellent 25 Girls Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
MaxPreps host Myckena Guerrero breaks down the Top 25, which includes No. 19 Fossil Ridge.

If there is a recipe for success when it comes to finishing out the prep volleyball season each November at the Denver Coliseum, the first ingredient is likely going to be consistency.

Take a look at the programs which have dominated at the Coliseum, and what stands out is that year in and year out, those teams find a way to get to the final Saturday night and play for a state championship.

A few examples:
— Eaton claimed its fourth consecutive Class 3A state championship last November, becoming the first team to do so since Cheyenne Mountain won five in a row in 4A from 2008-12.
— Lewis-Palmer made it three championships in a span of four years in 4A, with the Rangers advancing to the finals for the fifth consecutive time.
— Fleming also captured its third title in four years in 1A and sixth overall in 10 seasons.
— Even though Yuma came up a bit short in the 2A final, the Indians still appeared in the title match for a third consecutive year.

So for programs like Fossil Ridge (5A) and Dayspring Christian (2A), which reached the championship match for the first time and took home a state title, finding that kind of consistency is a crucial first step in a sport where lineups change from year to year.

"Every year the team evolves," Dayspring Christian coach Kristin Kurz told CHSAANow.com before the season began. "You've got to try and fit the puzzle pieces together."

With the 2017 season barely a week old, each of the five defending state champions find themselves trying to live up to that level of consistency. In some cases, the pieces of the puzzle have changed — four of the five reigning Players of the Year graduated – but plenty of talent remains across the board.

Here is a quick look at each of the five classifications going into the first full month of the season:

Class 5A
Defending champion: Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins)
Preseason Favorite: Fossil Ridge
Overview: Fossil Ridge became the seventh different 5A champion over the past nine years when the Sabercats held off Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) in a five-set thriller to win its first state championship. Then-sophomores Riley Zuhn and Catie Semadeni were a big part of that run, and the duo is back for a Fossil Ridge team looking to get back to the title game. Zuhn is 6-foot-5 and paces a tall lineup that also returns setter Tyler Lindgren. … Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch), which fell to Mountain Vista in the semis, returns senior outside hitter Keeley Davis, who had 421 kills a year ago.
Returning All-State players: Keeley Davis, Sr., Rock Canyon (2nd team); Catie Semadeni, Jr., Fossil Ridge (2nd team); Riley Zuhn, Sr., Fossil Ridge (1st team). Class 4A
Defending champion: Lewis-Palmer (Monument)
Preseason Favorite: Lewis-Palmer
Overview: Say this for the 4A classification — it's all about consistency at the top. Whether it was Mountain View (five straight title-match appearances from 2003-07), Cheyenne Mountain (six finals in a row and five consecutive titles from 2007-2012) or Lewis-Palmer (five trips to the finals in a row and three championships in four years), the runs are deep. Lewis-Palmer coach Susan Odenbaugh stepped down after the Rangers captured another crown last fall, and the team graduated its top three hitters. But all-state junior setter McKenna Sciacca is back, along with sophomore libero Gianna Bartalo among others. … A young Holy Family (Broomfield) squad that finished as the runner-up returns most of its core, including all-state junior Ali Travis.
Returning All-State players: Rylee Anderson, Sr., Silver Creek (Longmont) (2nd team); Mackenzie Fidelak, Sr., Niwot (2nd team); Brilane Manchego, Sr., Pueblo West (2nd team); McKenna Sciacca, Jr., Lewis-Palmer (2nd team); Ali Travis, Jr., Holy Family (1st team).

Class 3A
Defending champion: Eaton
Preseason Favorite: Eaton
Overview: Winning four consecutive state championships means that everyone else is doing the chasing. The Reds graduated Player of the Year Tarynn Sieg, but All-Sstate setter Chelsey Lockey and junior outside hitter Mackenzie Harris anchor a squad looking to keep its run going. Eaton opens its season against Patriot League rival and No. 2 Valley (Gilcrest) in a rematch of the previous three 3A state title games. … Senior setter Halie Diederich and sophomore Delaney Eckhardt lead the Vikings.
Returning All-State players: Chelsey Lockey, Sr., Eaton (1st team); Bailey Martin, Sr., Middle Park (Granby) (2nd team).

Class 2A
Defending champion: Dayspring Christian Academy (Greeley)
Preseason Favorite: Yuma
Overview: After having to win a tiebreak at the state tournament, Yuma returned to the state title game for the third year in a row. The Indians came up short against Dayspring Christian, but the team graduated two seniors and opened up the season with a sweep of 3A No. 5 Resurrection Christian. Two of Yuma's top three hitters return (Chasey Blach and Cody Robinson), as does setter Kenedy Roth. … Dayspring Christian has reigning Player of the Year Katie Kurz back in its lineup, along with Megan Roberts, but the Eagles must replace their other four starters.
Returning All-State players: Chasey Blach, Jr., Yuma (2nd team); Katie Kurz, Sr., Dayspring Christian (1st team); Jerraldawn Rector, Sr., Simla (2nd team); Shaelyn Walton, Sr., Hoehne (1st team).

Class 1A
Defending champion: Fleming
Preseason Favorite: Kit Carson
Overview: It's hard to overlook a defending state champion, especially one that returns its top two hitters as Fleming does in All-State seniors Bailey Chintala and Alli Keisel. But Kit Carson graduated two seniors and returns its own All-State duo in juniors Tess Hornung and McKenzie Smith. The Wildcats had not lost a game in 2016 until Fleming swept them in the 1A title game, and take that motivation into this season. … Fleming gets an early test this week, visiting No. 5 Weldon Valley.
Returning All-State players: Bailey Chintala, Sr., Fleming (1st team); Kaylee Corsentino, Jr., La Veta (2nd team); Tess Hornung, Jr., Kit Carson (1st team); Alli Keisel, Sr., Fleming (1st team); Hannah Kinnison, Soph., Prairie (New Raymer) (2nd team); Anna Sanchini, Sr., Weldon Valley (Weldona) (2nd team); McKenzie Smith, Jr., Kit Carson (2nd team).