Volleyball: Class 4A league outlooks

Rocky Mountain News

Published August 31, 2006 at midnight

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Centennial

Mullen will qualify for the postseason if the Mustangs win 25 percent of their matches this season. That’s not as easy as it sounds, as Mullen plays in the Centennial League, which has three teams ranked in Class 5A’s top 10, including No. 1 Grandview, the two-time defending state champion.

Coach Terry Cruz does have five starters returning and is relying on 6-foot sophomore middle blocker Cassie Herringer and 5-7 senior outside hitter Sara Bissmeyer to get the Mustangs to that district tournament appearance.

Continental

It’s certainly much easier for the teams here to make the postseason. Two 4A qualifiers will come from the Continental League, another contingent dominated by 5A schools. Regis and Rock Canyon already have it made, as Castle View, a new school, won’t field a varsity team yet.

Regis is coached by Laura Dunston and, as a relative newcomer to girls sports itself, brings back all its players. The best are Jillian Hanzlik, a 6-foot senior outside hitter; Kristin Taggart, a 5-9 senior outside or right side hitter; and Morgan Klukkert, a 5-11 sophomore setter. Regis also is hosting its first tournament ever, a two-day, 16-team event to be played the weekend of Sept. 2-3 at the Gold Crown facility.

Colorado Springs Metro

Cheyenne Mountain is the heavy favorite here, especially with the absence of Pine Creek, which moved to 5A this season. The Indians are bringing back three of the top players in the state: outside hitter Andrea Brodie (a Portland State recruit), setter Natalie Schoon and libero Sherri O’Brian.

Coach David Barkley also said that Laura Brodie, Andrea’s sophomore middle blocker sister; middle blocker Holly Hutchison; right side Brittany Bilderback; and outside hitter Kelley Lawson will play important roles this season.

Fountain-Fort Carson has the talent to win this season, particularly with sophomore Haley Shackelford hitting off sets by Krista Newcombe. Liberty has good size with 6-1 Kara Slater and 6-foot Courtney Day, plus Brook Ribordy and Kassidi Warnock hitting from the left side.

Mesa Ridge has an athlete in outside hitter Colleen Sullivan, an intimidator in middle Joy Whittemore and a savvy setter in Jessica Velasquez, so things should be better under new coach John Critzer.

Widefield was very successful last season. The Gladiators look to be strong in the back row with defensive specialists Ashlyn Crump and Shauna Spadaro, along with middles Christina Brennan and Brittany Fiedler, and outside hitter Kendall Sickmiller. Senior Ashley Fenlon will do the setting.

Falcon, Harrison, Sierra and Woodland Park are the other league teams.

Denver Prep

Denver South was the big story here last year, as the Rebels went 16-5. Coach John Calderwood said South won the league for the first time since 1983 and were within two points of advancing out of districts. He said Denver East was the last DPL team to do that — in 1996. Unfortunately, the Rebels graduated eight seniors. However, Denver South could rise again behind 6-1 middle Cathryn Gregson, 5-4 setter-defensive specialist Stephanie Ball and 5-10 right side Lauren Bluemel.

Denver North has size in the middle with 5-10 senior Danielle Gallegos. The Vikings’ height drops off after that. Still, coach Janell Martinez said junior right side Stephanie Cain, sophomore outside Stephanie Gomez and junior setter Persephone Guerrero all are returning starters.

Montbello has lots of experience coming back. Warriors coach Nickole Jackson is enthusiastic about 6-2 setter Nikki Magee and defensive specialist Sierra Hilliard.

Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson are the other teams in this league.

Jefferson County

Conifer should be back in the playoff picture, coach Cindy Tadlock believes. The Lobos have four returning starters and a couple of promising younger players. Tadlock said 5-10 Emily Greenhalgh is one of the top setters in the state and she’s just a junior. Her best target will be Andrea Droz, a four-year starter at outside hitter.

Other key contributors include middles Tracy Pluin and Morgan Elliott, right side Julie Wandrey, defensive specialists Kristen Wakeman and Heather Chivers, plus setter Stephanie Schingeck. Tadlock said the Lobos will be short in the middle, but are smart with good hitting fundamentals.

At D’Evelyn, coach Valerie Battaglia believes her team will finally have an offense. The Jaguars can exploit the middle with two 6-1 players, sophomore Emily Adney and senior Alyssa Benjamin. On the outside, senior Jessica Griffith is a three-year starter. Other top players include middles Katrina Meister, Wendy Kulkus and Katie Garvey; libero Teana Tanda; setters Allison Schroeder and Ashley Hintz. Several of those players might play more than one position.

Elizabeth coach Don Lash thinks the Cardinals will be competitive, and they should start quickly with five returning starters. Elizabeth will run a 6-2 offense and that means senior Megan Hawkins is in control while Lash looks for the second setter. Middle blockers Kallie Jiblitz and Hannah Button are two seniors that Hawkins will find.

Alameda, Englewood, Evergreen, Golden, Jefferson, Ralston Valley and Summit are the other league teams.

Skyline

Centaurus looked impressive at the end of the regular season and then didn’t make it out of districts last year. The Warriors have one of the state’s top players in setter-outside hitter Evan Sanders, who is back for her junior season. Coach Bev Sanders, Evan’s mother, also is counting on setter Kara Johnson and outside/middle Stormie Leslie, both seniors. Middle blocker Leahi Loloati is 6-2, has a strong club background and loads of promise.

Mountain Range is a new school located in Westminster, but it has a familiar face leading the program. Tracy Scheiber, formerly the coach at Standley Lake, is at the helm. Mountain Range has mostly sophomores on the squad, led by Brandi Hopkins, Lashea Herman, Kylynn Claymon and Jessica Robinson. However, several freshmen figure to get playing time, especially setter Ashley Apparito and outside hitter Mary Dorr.

Cherokee Trail should be in the thick of the league race. Coach Terry Miller said junior Bri Morley is an outside hitter worth watching and Lindsey Baca is another standout at setter.

Fort Lupton might find new life after leaving the battleground that is the Northern League and settling into the Skyline.

Prairie View is another new school and joins Ranum, Skyview and Westminster as the other teams in this league.

Northern

This league breeds state champions and it also gets respect from the state volleyball committee, which allows 10 of the 15 teams to qualify for the playoffs.

The list of top squads starts with Sterling, the two-time defending state champion. The Tigers are led by perhaps the best pair of middles ever to play at any level in this state. Both are 6-2 seniors. Schylur Edelman was last season’s 4A player of the year and is headed to the University of Colorado. Danielle Minch is a terminating machine who will play next at Nebraska.

Fort Morgan is counting on experience to get the Mustangs back among the strongest state contenders. Middle Madeline Rebol and outside hitter Cami Weimer are the players who can do it.

Greeley Central doesn’t have the returning talent of Sterling or Fort Morgan, but coach Mark Lauridsen still likes the potential of middle blocker Abbey Leichliter and outside hitter Katie Parins.

Greeley West is loaded. The Spartans have standouts in outside hitters Audrey Hemmings and Jennah Kitchell, both all-state players; right side Lyndsey Bressler; middle Lauren Dusin; and setters Krysta Brown and Lizzie Cole. Cole already has committed to Chadron State.

Mountain View lost only one senior from last season’s state tournament team. The Mountain Lions still have a terrific middle in Sarah Carson and an excellent setter in Megan Roark. Mountain View is one team that can challenge Sterling and Battle Mountain for No. 1 overall.

Northridge didn’t have much success last season but has potential with a lot of younger players. The roster includes: middle Corrine Roberts, outside hitters Jessie Erbacher and Kelsi Ouellette, right sides Maddie Casarez and Austin Wikum, setter Linsey Barta and defensive specialist Jordan Montoya.

Windsor could nudge its way into third place behind star middles Brittany Benningsdorf and Darby Emerson. Berthoud, Broomfield, Fossil Ridge, Longmont, Niwot, Silver Creek and Thompson Valley are the other teams in this league.

South Central

Not all the 4A powerhouses are going to come from northeastern Colorado or the Vail Valley. Pueblo West is primed with one of its best teams in years, and the Cyclones are a traditionally strong program.

This season, coach Casey King has two of the top players in the state. Jenica Shippy and Mallory Deneen are good-sized seniors who play opposite each other as outside hitters and setters. Throw in middle blocker Lauren Ottino, and few teams can match Pueblo West’s power.

At Pueblo East, coach Ben Garcia takes over the program after spending the past 14 years as the school’s softball coach. He has a good one in 6-1 senior middle blocker Lisa Jones, who is being recruited by several Divison I schools.

Alamosa, Canon City, Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo Central, Pueblo County and Pueblo South are the other league schools.

Southwestern

Trena Walker had an unenviable situation, taking over as coach of Montezuma-Cortez after longtime coach Lindy Mortensen advanced to the college ranks. The Panthers also had a nice string of outside hitters who were annually among the state’s leaders in kills.

This season, there looks to be a nice balance on the Panthers. They still have a good-sized outside hitter in 5-11 senior Megan Hanson, and a player who can get the ball to her in 5-8 senior setter Michelle Carriker.

Alyssa Franchini, a 5-8 middle, represents the junior class. But there also is a trio of sophomores filling in at different positions. Tori Pickens is a 5-7 outside hitter, Jackie Ramsey is a 5-3 defensive specialist and Naomie Ritthaler is a 5-8 middle.

Montrose is the other Class 4A team in this split league.

Western Slope

Brian Doyon certainly likes to give a lot of credit to the other teams in this league. But the Battle Mountain coach also gets it back, as several coaches around the state think the Huskies — not Sterling, Mountain Vista or Cheyenne Mountain — are the top 4A team in Colorado.

Some of those coaches also think Britney Brown is the best 4A setter in the state. There also is the thought that Crystin Rodrick is the most versatile player in the state.

So, if Battle Mountain does capture the 4A championship, behind the setting of Brown and all-around play of Rodrick, in addition to the hitting of Sofia Lindroth and Nicole Penwill, will anyone remember that the possibility was written about here? Not a chance.

Moffat County appears to be headed for a decent season. Coach Becky Jackson credits junior outside hitter Angie Charchalis as being the team’s best passer and most consistent player. Kari Griffin, positioned opposite of Charchalis, is a 5-10 junior in her first season with the varsity and is a player to watch.

Palisade really might be the only challenger to Battle Mountain in this area. The Bulldogs piled up a 20-win season last year and bring back most of those starters. The team is led by setter Jessica Hellmann, daughter of coach Steve Hellmann, outside hitter Meagan Bosch and Kirstie Bunting.

Delta, Eagle Valley, Glenwood Springs, Rifle and Steamboat Springs are the other teams in this league.

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