Volleyball Class 3A and Below team-by-team capsules
3A
TRI-PEAKS LEAGUE
Colorado Springs Christian School
Coach: Lori Currer
Last season: 14-11
Key players: Abby Skrastins, jr.; Hannah Swenson, jr.; Cassie Davis, so.
Outlook: With no seniors on the the team, the Lions will have to lean on juniors Skrastins and Swenson, both voted all-conference last season. Defensively, coach Currer expects the squad to keep the ball alive with their “scrappy” ability to get to kills. Davis will also be expected to lead.
Fountain Valley
Coach: Kirstin Harvey
Last season: 4-15
Key players: McKayla Dedrick, jr., MH/OH; Sydney Lane, jr., S, Destiny Morgan, so., MH
Outlook: Fountain Valley will turn things over to a trio of young players in Dedrick, Lane and Morgan. The group will be tasked with helping the Danes rebound from a 4-15 season and turn in the school’s first winning season since Harvey’s first year in 2011. Dedrick is the team’s top returning hitter (27 kills), Lane comes in as the best returning setter (10 assists) and Morgan impressed during her freshman season with 48 digs.
Manitou Springs
Coach: Carol Benedict
Last season: 28-1 (lost in state final)
Key players: Katie McKiel, jr., OH; Angala Jensen, jr., S; Sydney Brooks, sr., libero; McKenzi Petricko, jr., OH/MB; Shelby Megyeri, so., OH/MB; Brooke Garretson, jr., MB; Shelby Hard, so., MB
Outlook: Heartbreaking when your only loss comes in the state championship game. But the Mustangs can make up for that season by returning plenty of players who played in the state tournament. McKiel, The Gazette small schools player of the year in 2013, already holds school match and season kill records, and she’s only a junior. The Mustangs are headed for another extremely deep postseason run.
St. Mary’s
Coach: Chris Sweeney
Last season: 10-13
Key players: Katie Whitelaw, sr., OH; Tara Sweeney, so., S; Emily Broerman, so., L; DD Rigano, jr., MH
Outlook: Chris Sweeney takes over as the coach at St. Mary’s after his wife, Melissa, led the Pirates the past 13 seasons. While it will be hard to replicate what Melissa brought to the team, Chris has been around the team for years as an assistant coach and is inheriting a squad that should finish with a winning record. Five sophomores return with extensive playing experience from last year, including the family’s daughter, Tara (372 assists), who has already proven to be one of the up-and-coming setters in the region, and libero Broerman. Whitelaw returns for her senior year after leading the Pirates with 154 kills. Broerman brings a strong defensive presence on the court and recorded 354 digs last year.
2A
Black Forest
Peyton
Coach: Jacqueline Goodman
Last season: 16-9
Key players: Karlin Rufenacht, sr., MH; Ashton Kunau, sr., OH; Emily Weldon, jr., OH/S
Outlook: Peyton will look to put forth its fifth consecutive double-digit, winning season after last year’s 16-win campaign. However, the Panthers are replacing six graduating seniors and will be turning the reins over to a team of relative unknowns. Rufenacht, who played in 12 sets last year in her first action on varsity, will be getting her chance in the middle this season and will be joined by outside hitters Kunau and Weldon. Kunau appeared in 45 sets before her season was cut short due to injury, and Weldon appeared in two sets at the varsity level.
Colorado Springs School
Coach: Kyong Lee
Last season: 23-4
Key players: Maddee Morley, sr., S; Kristin Moore, sr., L; Hannah Taylor, so., MH
Outlook: Colorado Springs School may have lost top seniors Maddy Mason (305 kills) and Kendra Baucom (259 kills) from last year’s 23-4 Black Forest League champions, but the Lions do return setter Morley. The returning captain was the leader of the team’s offense and proved to be one of the top setters in the Pikes Peak region. Morley, who set a career high with a league-best 687 assists last year and is on pace to surpass the 2,000 career-mark this season, has proven to be a mature and confident leader for the past few years. She will certainly look to motivate her returning Kodiaks to avenge last season’s unfruitful postseason performance that saw CSS get bounced from the state playoffs with losses to Lutheran and Lyons. Keep an eye on Taylor (31 blocks, 50 kills) as the sophomore played a large role last year as a freshman in the middle and should be even better with a year of experience under her.
1A
Black Forest League
Hanover
Coach: Holly Decker
Last season: 3-18
Key players: Jamie Tyler, sr., S; Keagan Gracy, jr., MH
Outlook: The Hornets have had a rough start this year after being unable to practice consistently due to the school’s water system being down, leading to a lack of practices. Still, Decker will be relying upon her four returning seniors – Tyler, Aranda Christensen, Faith Lawson and Kendall Brennan – to help make up for any lack of practice time.
*Teams not listed did not report by deadline
JUSTIN FELISKO, THE GAZETTE
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa speaks to the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at Centennial Hall. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette