The Lutheran girls volleyball team saw its 47-match winning streak come to an end earlier this season. But the loss hasn't hurt the team's spirits by any means.
File photo by Ray Chen
When the streak ended,
Connie Olson had mixed emotions. It was difficult whether to view it as the end of a two-year process or as a simple nonleague loss to a higher-classification opponent.
On one hand,
Lutheran (Parker) volleyball hadn't lost since Oct. 15, 2011 and had won two Class 2A state championships during the run. It culminated an unbeaten streak of 47 consecutive matches that included a perfect 28-0 campain in 2012.
Connie Olson
File photo by Ray Chen
On the other hand, the streak-ending loss to Platte Valley on Sept. 10 merely could be viewed as the first blip in the radar for a Lions squad that has added plenty of new players, many whom weren't a part of either championship.
Olson, the Lions' senior standout outside hitter, was a part of both titles. But she also understands it's a new team.
"Honestly, it motivated me, but I definitely took it harder," Olson said. "A lot of the new girls always hear that we've been undefeated for so long, but we try to let them know that everyone loses eventually. It's just a part of the game. Losing always stinks, but we took it, came out to practice the next day and moved on."
The Lions have not experienced many setbacks since becoming a volleyball program. Previously, Denver Lutheran and Lutheran Parker were separate schools, but they consolidated to the Parker-based school at the outset of the 2011 season.
Since then, the volleyball team has gone 60-5 and is aiming for its third-straight title. Coach Alicia Oates, who was at Denver Lutheran for eight seasons before becoming the coach of the consolidated Lions, was proud of the way her girls handled the 3-1 loss to Platte Valley.
"No one likes losing, no matter when it happens, so it was tough," Oates said. "But they took it in stride. They realize that the games right now are just preparing us for where we want to be, so if you learn from the loss, it's not a bad thing. And Platte Valley is a very strong team, so they recognize that as well."
Sophomore setter
Madi Arnell also was one who took it a little harder than the others. Arnell, who was second on the Lions with 339 assists last year, had never lost in a Lutheran uniform. She was in eighth grade when the Lions lost to Colorado Academy.
Arnell has become the primary setter this season as Lutheran has switched from a 6-2 system to a 5-1. Last season, senior Ally Kvachkoff led the Lions with 433 assists.
While Lutheran is ranked No. 3 in the 2A poll released Sept. 16, it's worth noting that beyond Olson, Arnell and
Chandler Sturms, the Lions are essentially composed of new faces.
Madi Arnell
File photo by Ray Chen
"We're a young team for the most part, with only four girls with varsity experience," Oates said. "One of them didn't see much playing time last year, but she was part of the state championship team. A lot of the other girls haven't played varsity before. Our focus is to try in get back in position to be where we were."
Olson has been a large part of the growing process for the youngsters, often pointing out that weight room workouts are just as essential as on-court activities when it comes to reaching the ultimate goal.
Olson was second on the Lions with 264 kills as a freshman, led them with 297 last season (one more than senior Laura Beach) and already has compiled 108 this season.
One quirk of the dominant three-year run that she has particularly enjoyed is that she's had a different Sturms sister on the outside each of her three seasons.
"It is so cool," Olson said. "My sophomore year it was Taylor Sturms on the outside who wore No. 3. Last year it was Jordyn Sturms who was an outside who also wore No. 3. Now I get the third Sturms (Chandler) on the third year, as the third outside who also wears No. 3.
"I was hoping to achieve a third district championship with them, or even more if we can achieve that goal as a team."
