One of the common adages in sports is that it’s tougher to defend a championship than to win one the first time. Colorado high school volleyball has five defending champions, and most are expected back at the state tournament on Nov. 13-14 at the Denver Coliseum. Here’s a look at last year’s champions:
Class 5A
Cherry Creek had a perfect season last year, going 31-0 and beating then-defending champion Grandview in the title match. The Bruins had player of the year Carrie Baird (now at San Diego), plus setter and right-side hitter Gabi Dewberry make the All-Colorado team.
Everyone who had a significant role at the state tournament graduated. Still, nobody’s counting them out. The Bruins had a great junior varsity team last year, and four players from that unit got to practice with the varsity in the postseason.
ThunderRidge (left) battles Doherty last year.
File photo by Dennis Marpuri
“Our J.V. team was pretty good last year, but my big test is experience,” Cherry Creek coach Sally Moos said. “I have four kids that came up and joined our (varsity team) in the postseason. Maybe each one stepped on the court once at the state tournament. But those four kids practiced hard and they’ve all played together.”
The Bruins already have one player, setter Lexi Fowler, who has a college scholarship waiting without having been a varsity starter. She’s headed to South Dakota State. The other three who got a taste of state are outside hitters Jessica Aschenbrenner and Victoria Kirkemo and middle blocker Ali Weber. All but Weber are seniors.
While Cherry Creek did quite well in the summer, Ponderosa and Arapahoe set themselves above the others. Chaparral gets the preseason No. 1 ranking in the Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps poll, as the Wolverines welcome back senior Mikinzie Moydell, who sat out last season with a wrist injury. Moydell, a 6-footer who also can hit while in the front row, has a scholarship to Penn State.
Nicole Dalton is a 6-2 swing player who will be opposite Moydell. Dalton was the best freshman in the state last season and won All-America honors for the Front Range club at the AAU national championships.
Wolverines coach T.R. Ellis knows her team is loaded with hitters, but wants Chaparral to be just as good on defense.
“I don’t want them to get the offensive attitude where we’ll just pound the ball,” she said. “I want us to control the court. Why not be the best defensive team?”
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
1. Chaparral . . . 43 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Grandview . . . 33 (2)
3. Ponderosa . . . 28
4. Highlands Ranch . . . 16 (1)
5. Cherry Creek . . . 15
6. Doherty . . . 10
7t. Arapahoe . . . 9
7t. Rampart . . . 9
9t. Eaglecrest . . . 6
9t. Mountain Vista . . . 6
Others receiving votes: Cherokee Trail 3, Lakewood 3, Ralston Valley 2, Regis Jesuit 2, Columbine 1, Fort Collins 1.
Expected returning All-Staters
Morgan Bohl, Eaglecrest, Jr.; Megan Buckingham, Highlands Ranch, Sr.; Kayla Collier-Vigil, ThunderRidge, Sr.; Nicole Dalton, Chaparral, So.; Erica Denney, Grandview, Sr.; Hanna Gibeau (3A with Faith Christian), Ralston Valley, Sr.; Kendall Howard, Ponderosa, Sr.; Taylor Jordan, Lakewood, Sr.; Skylar Lewandowski, Rampart, Sr.; Hannah Margheim, Highlands Ranch, Sr.; Amy Parlier, Fairview, Sr.; Shelby Schacher, Arapahoe, Sr.; Taylor Simpson, Doherty, Jr.; Kelsey Snider, Pomona, Sr.; Erin Stock, Coronado, Sr.; Erica Winkler, Highlands Ranch, Sr.
Class 4A
Cheyenne Mountain took the 4A title last year, in one of the most rugged final fours ever in the classification. The Indians lost three of their leaders, but coach David Barkley has some talent back, most notably in Kendall Gaffney, a senior outside hitter. Tasha Ray, another notable, is a 5-11 senior but her role is unclear, as she might swing between right side and middle blocker.
Cheyenne Mountain has won five consecutive district and regional championships, but the loss of three starters is going to hurt.
“We still think we can be pretty good,” Barkley said. “But I would never in a million years think we’re the favorite.”
That role apparently will fall to Roosevelt, which lost do-everything leader Alex Morford. But the Roughriders have back loads of talent: Megan Velasquez and Sendy Valles, plus sophomore Erin Seele. Roosevelt also gets the full use of Sage Martinson and Billie Jo McMurren, transfers from Valley who had to sit out half of the regular season last year.
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
1. Roosevelt . . . 11 points
2. Cheyenne Mountain . . .10 (1 first-place vote)
3. Montrose . . . 8 (1)
4. Lewis-Palmer . . . 6
5t. Fossil Ridge . . . 5 (1)
5t. Mullen . . . 5 (1)
7t. Longmont . . . 4
7t. Skyline . . . 4
9t. Greeley West . . . 3
9t. Sterling . . . 3
Others receiving votes: Rock Canyon 2, D'Evelyn 1, Thompson Valley 1, Wheat Ridge 1.
Expected returning All-Staters
Kate Baals, Golden, Sr.; Kelsey Freeman, Mullen, Sr.; Allie Friewald, Mullen, Sr.; Sami Fuentes, Roosevelt, Jr.; Kendall Gaffney, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.; Courtney Geesing, Montrose, Sr.; Rachel Keyes, Mullen, Sr.; Nikki Lindow, Centaurus, Sr.; Leahi Lolotai, Centaurus, Sr.; Kate Oakes, Evergreen, Sr.; Kelsey O’Connor, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; Rachel Romansky, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; Kristen Sciacca, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Megan Tapia, Pueblo South, Sr.; Sendy Valles, Roosevelt, Sr.; Megan Velasquez, Roosevelt, Sr.
Class 3A
As expected, Colorado Springs Christian won the state title last year, just as the Lions had done the season before, and before that, etc. So, it’s little surprise that C.S. Christian is a heavy favorite to make it six straight this season.
Mike Broekhuis is fairly confident about the Lions' chances. He has the state’s top player in his daughter, 6-5 Morgan Broekhuis, a Nebraska recruit. Another top-notch player, 6-foot middle blocker Brianne VandeGriend, has a scholarship to play for Alabama, and defensive specialist Hannah Walker has one with the Colorado Buffaloes.
“Not only are the expectations (from around the state) there, but with our younger players, they sense the importance too,” Mike Broekhuis said. “From top-to-bottom, this is probably our strongest group.”
Yes, perhaps the Lions are even stronger than last season, although now-graduated Bethany Beck was a fine player. Not only are Morgan and Brianne the cream of the crop, but outside hitter Heather Poll should be healthy this season. The defense will be handled by Ashley Peak, an all-tournament choice at libero, plus Katie McGuire.
The primary competition should come from traditional rival Valley, which has an exceptional hitter-setter combination in Sierra Bennett and Savannah Garcia.
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
1. Colorado Springs Christian . . . 20 points (4 first-place votes)
2. Valley . . . 14
3. Eaton . . . 10
4. Faith Christian . . . 8
5. Bayfield . . . 6
Others receiving votes: The Classical Academy 4, Colorado Academy 1, Holy Family 1, Middle Park
Expected returning All-Staters
Lauren Alejo, The Classical Academy, Sr.; Mady Bigelow, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Morgan Broekhuis, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.; Carsyn Garcia, University, Jr.; Reanna Hodgin, Valley, Jr.; Gracie Howe, Eaton, Sr.; Elsa Krieg, Middle Park, Sr.; Lindy Matthews, University, Jr.; Ashley Peak, Colorado Springs Christian, Jr.; Heather Poll, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.; Gabriela Rifilato, Bayfield, Sr.; Katherine Rifilato, Bayfield, Sr.; Taylor Sturms, Denver Lutheran, So.; Nyana Tsacher, Platte Valley, Jr.; Kelly Tycksen, Faith Christian, Sr.; Breanne VandeGriend, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.; Hannah Walker, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.; Emily Weingartner, Faith Christian, Sr.
Class 2A
Repeating in this classification might be difficult for Fowler, which graduated Morgan Moss, 2A’s player of the year. She is now at Montana State.
She’s also the daughter of Grizzlies coach Sandy Moss, but the bloodline will continue on the court with Bethany Moss, a 5-8 outside hitter. And while Morgan was brilliant last season, also Bethany was named first-team all-state, a rare honor for a freshman. Add in right side Shelby Hartless, a 5-6 junior and Kristen Grasmick, a 5-4 defensive specialist, and it’s clear Fowler is not without talent.
Also, other perennial contenders might be down a bit. Swink has a new coach and a roster hard hit by graduation. Colorado Springs School, the 2A runner-up, lost its primary stars as well.
Sandy Moss thinks Simla has quite a bit of talent back this season, but she knows the Grizzlies have another challenge, that every opponent would love to take dow the state champs.
“I think that people will be gunning for us,” she said. “Last year, nobody expected us to win. We’ve got a great group of kids. They work so hard and want to do what it takes to get us back up there.”
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
1. Fowler . . . 27 points (4 first-place votes)
2. Sangre de Cristo . . . 16 (1)
3. Simla . . . 10 (1)
4. Colorado Springs School . . . 9
5. Hoehne . . . 8
6. Burlington . . . 7
7. Resurrection Christian . . . 5
8t. Akron . . . 4
8t. Wray . . . 4
10. Merino . . . 2
Others receiving votes: La Veta, Longmont Christian, Lutheran-Parker, Nederland, Pikes Peak Christian and Rangely 1.
Expected returning All-Staters
Taylor Castillo, Wray, Sr.; Anna DeWald, Resurrection Christian, Sr.; April Gonzales, Fowler, Jr.; Bethany Klinkerman, Fowler, Jr.; Bethany Moss, Fowler, So.; Victoria Phelan, Rangely, Jr.; Nikki Schmidt, Merino, Jr.
Class A
While Fleming can’t match Colorado Springs Christian’s run of five consecutive state titles, the Wildcats are working on a couple of nice streaks of their own. Fleming won its second straight last season, finishing with a superlative 33-0 record.
That’s the good news, but the bad is the Wildcats graduated six seniors, most of them who played huge roles. Fleming’s four-year record stands at 110-9. While the Wildcats certainly will miss setter Bethany Atkin, Lynnae Cox and Alyssa Mueller, Morgan Wilkening is back. Wilkening, the sister of now-graduated Amanda Wilkening, was another one of those rare freshmen first-team all-staters and she hits a ton.
Ball control is the concern this season.
“Our serve-receive last year as almost automatic,” Fleming coach Derek Herbert said. “We have to fill in some spots. We’re stronger in hitting than last year, but at setter, we had a four-year starter. It was wonderful to have a spot filled like that.”
In addition Wilkening, the Wildcats bring back right side hitter Erica Moeller, a 5-9 junior, 5-11 middle blocker Jenna Vandenberg, and 5-5 defensive specialist Jenna Monheiser.
As for rivals, Herbert still is looking at Otis, which graduated only one player. The Bulldogs lost to Fleming in last year’s state championship match.
Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Poll
1. Fleming . . . 10 points (2 first-place votes)
2. Otis . . . 8
3. Liberty (Joes) . . . 5
4. Kim . . . 3
5. Hi-Plains . . . 2
Others receiving votes: Pawnee and Weldon Valley 1.
Expected returning All-Staters
Cedar Bellows, Liberty (Joes), Jr.; Adrianne Cline, McClave, Sr.; Callie Colden, Liberty (Joes), Sr.; Beth Cooper, Hi-Plains, Sr.; Kaitlyn Hanson, North Park, Sr.; Cassia Kent, Kit Carson, Jr.; Kati Kuntz, Otis, So.; Whitney McCaffrey, Hi-Plains, Sr.; Briana Medford, Kit Carson, Sr.; Jessica Noble, Otis, So.; Jaden Noe, Springfield, Sr.; Anthonya Schaffert, Otis, Jr.; Jenna Vandenbark, Fleming, Jr.; Lori Weirich, Eads, Sr.; Morgan Wilkening, Fleming, So.
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