Grandview puts its perfect record on line at tourney

Alan Pearce, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Even though Grandview is the favorite to win this weekend's Class 5A volleyball tournament, that doesn't mean the undefeated and top-seeded Wolves will not get some competition.

In fact, Grandview was taken to the brink by Columbine on Saturday in regional play. The Wolves (26-0) were extended to five games for the first time this season.

The Rebels believed that match revealed their true potential.

"All of us appreciate each other so much," Columbine middle blocker Randee Hayes said. "Even though we lost, it showed us how good we can be."

Although the top seeds sport impressive records, the four regional runners-up looks to be as potent as some high seeds from years past.

Pine Creek (22-6) returns to state with nearly as much drama as last year. In 2006, because of a tiebreaker miscalculation by administrators in regionals, the Eagles needed a one-game playoff against Mountain Vista to determine a state qualifier.

This season, Pine Creek gave Eaglecrest a battle in their regional match, which went five games. The Eagles dominated the Raptors in the second and fourth games, allowing only 17 and 14 points, compared with scoring 22 and 21 in their losing games. The Raptors ended up winning the fifth game 15-8.

"I wasn't disappointed at all," Pine Creek setter Cindy Bathelt said. "I know that taking them up to five would boost up our ranking for state, which can be important."

Pine Creek really wasn't expected to make the final eight this year, because it lost four key starters from last season.

"I think we all kind of thought that in the back of our minds, but our coach (Paul Waring) wouldn't hear of it," Bathelt said. "He was (saying), 'Nope, we are going to state.' So, big coach's present for him."

At an important regional win against Durango, Pine Creek got big hits from Kelsi Klikus and Anne Fredell from the outside, as well as dominant blocking from Jordan Harline in the middle.

Bathelt, who will play next season at national power University of Florida, got an indication the Eagles would do well in the playoffs with a win against Mitchell, a Colorado Springs Metro League opponent.

"It was our last home game of the season. We won in three pretty easily but it felt for the first time that everything clicked, even with all the bench players," she said. "I wished it would have happened against (league champion) Lewis-Palmer but, oh, well."

Highlands Ranch is the sixth seed. At regionals, it lost for the second time this season, to Cherry Creek.

The Falcons (24-2) are known for their digging, but outside hitter Kristina Rogers and middle blocker Erica Winkler know how to put a ball away. Also, Bri Smith is one of the most clever setters in the state at disguising the dump, an attack on the second touch.

Highlands Ranch coach Lou Krauss also praised Rogers' transition to the left side from the middle.

"We're not like Mountain Vista (with Ariel Turner) or Heritage (Ann Dylla), with someone who can beat the snot out of the ball," Krauss said earlier this season. "But

'Beaner' is hitting .350."

A .280 mark is considered superior for an outside hitter. Rogers, a 5-foot-10 senior, was called "Kristiner-Beaner" as a youngster and the nickname has stuck to the point it was printed on her individual player poster hanging in the Falcons gym.

Mountain Vista (19-7), the No. 8 seed, didn't do much against Lewis-Palmer at regionals and has the most losses among state qualifiers. Still, the Golden Eagles have the most fearsome hitter at the tournament in Turner, and Sonja Johnson, one of the state leaders in assists, as well as a capable middle in Sarah Miller.

Turner, a 6-3 junior outside hitter, is averaging 4.63 kills a game, is a tremendous blocker and plays solid defense.

"It's a lot of fun to set her," Johnson said of Turner. "I can pretty much throw anything up there and she can get the kill. Sarah Miller, she can run all the different sets: the 3's, the A's, the slides. She's a really good blocker and gets her hands way over the net."

Among the teams at the top, Grandview has a lineup featuring powerful Lauren Van Orden and Erica Denney. Lewis-Palmer (Ariana Filho and Natalie Laband), Cherry Creek (Carrie Baird and Tessa Trimble) and Eaglecrest (Courtney Karst and Jordan Kissman) also have talented rotations.

pearcea@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5352