MONUMENT • Lewis-Palmer and Mullen proved during pool play Saturday that they were the class of the 4A Region D volleyball tournament. And while both will be among the eight to advance to the state tournament, the Mustangs proved they were a step ahead of the Rangers in a 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20 victory to win the title.“We play predominately in the 5A Centennial League, and playing 16 tough matches against the likes of Cherry Creek and Grandview just hardened us,” Mullen coach Vilis Ozols said. “Lewis-Palmer came at us with so many runs. Our girls did a great job using their mental toughness to weather that.”Lewis-Palmer, one year away from a trip to the 5A state tournament, had to be a bit happy to qualify again, considering seven starters graduated last year.“It was a long day, but we’re excited. It’s a big honor to be going back to state. No one thought we would be able to. I guess we showed them,” said senior libero Shelbi Pitcher, one of only two  — including junior middle blocker Christi Limpert — to return. “Mullen had some really good servers. They executed well. I thought we responded well considering what they threw at us.”The Mustangs (19-7) and the Rangers (22-4) had not previously played this season. L-P coach Susan Odenbaugh said her team had special difficulty returning the serve of Mullen junior Rachel Keyes and it took time to adjust.“We struggled on our serve receive, especially when she was in the rotation,” Odenbaugh said. “We didn’t block as well until we changed our scheme in the third game. Offensively, we were too conservative and tipped too much.”Mullen took early leads in Games 1 and 2 to set the tempo. An ace from senior Caitlin McElhaney gave the home team a 15-10 edge, but the Mustangs finished on a 15-6 run to take a 25-16 win.Lewis-Palmer led 15-13 in the Game 2, but Mullen’s 7-0 run capped by Kelsey Freeman’s kill with an assist by Keyes made it 21-15 and the game was all but over.Lewis-Palmer jumped out to an 8-3 lead in Game 3 after a Limpert ace. Mullen fought back to tie it at 13, but a point by junior blocker Kristen Sciacca gave the Rangers a 20-19 lead and propelled them in Game 3.Lewis-Palmer’s crowd was fired up when senior Brittany Walker led her team to a 7-3 lead in Game 4, but Mullen fought back to take a 9-8 lead after a timeout.When Mullen took a 21-20 lead after an incredibly hard-fought, long rally, The Mustangs it spelled the end for the Rangers. Both teams beat Longmont and Pueblo West earlier.

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