Marisa Hornbaker thought Colorado Springs Christian’s first state volleyball title was the best, while Lisa Meeter really wanted the third one.
As it turned out, every moment of the Lions’ three-year reign as not only the top team in Class 3A but also as one of the most dominant teams to come through the state was phenomenal.
“The first one was better, but we went out with a big bang,” Hornbaker said of Colorado Springs Christian’s three-game sweep of Valley, 25-12, 25-15, 25-16, Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.
“We were focused on one thing, and when we all saw that gold ball we knew we wanted it. This was our last time together, and we had tons of pressure on us, but we had a vision in our head and did everything we could to get there,” Meeter said.
Colorado Springs Christian (29-2), ranked nationally by at least two volleyball publications, has not dropped a game to a 3A opponent since it beat Weld Central in four games in 2004. The Lions have won 90 of their past 92 matches.
Meeter, Hornbaker and Lauren Rosenthal will play Division I volleyball next year, and Amy Whitlow also will move on to the next level.
The quickness and power of Colorado Springs Christian was evident, as Meeter pounded home 15 kills and 6-foot-3 freshman Morgan Broekhius added 10 more. Hornbaker roared in the last two games for a slew of big hits and even bigger blocks.
The pressure of three-peating weighed on the Lions, who could not turn a corner in the city of Colorado Springs without being asked – or told – if they would win it all again.
“Walking around the halls people were like, ‘You’re going to win another state championship, right?’ Or, if I was out wearing a CSCS shirt, somebody would say the same thing even though I had no idea who they were,” Rosenthal said.
Colorado Springs Christian led 5-4 in the first game before going on a 13-4 run to put it out of reach. Valley (28-3) kept the second game even up to a 10-10 score until a 12-2 Lions’ scoring streak ended that one. The final game was close, too, for a while.
“We just have this gear we shift into. It’s like we say, ‘Enough of this. Let’s win it,”‘ Meeter said.
Said Hornbaker: “We like to give them hope.”
The Vikings, with only one senior on a roster loaded with freshman talent, certainly proved they belonged in the title match.
Devin Eckhardt earned the praise of her coach.
“I’m so proud of my senior. She played really, really tough. She had seven freshmen out here, and we wouldn’t have gone as far as we did without her,” Valley coach Rene Aafedt said.
All-tourney team
Devin Eckhardt, Valley, sr.
Marisa Hornbaker, Colorado Springs Christian, sr.
Sarah Keiter, Faith Christian, sr.
Lisa Meeter, Colorado Springs Christian, sr.
Lauren Rosenthal, Colorado Springs Christian, sr.
Amy Whitlow, Colorado Springs Christian, sr.
MVP: Meeter
