Britt Geist would not even think about putting down the Class 4A state volleyball trophy.
“No, I might hold on to it all night,” said Geist, who first sat sobbing tears of joy on the bench with the trophy in her lap before joining her team with the prize still firmly in her clutches.
Moments earlier, Geist and her Mountain View teammates put the finishes touches on an impressive four-game victory over Cheyenne Mountain, 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 25-14, in the title match Saturday at the Denver Coliseum.
It has been an impressive run for the Mountain Lions (27-4).
Coach Lindsey Stinson started the program with a roster full of freshman when the school opened its doors in 2000. That initial freshmen class won the 4A title as seniors, and Mountain Vista hasn’t missed the championship game since.
After two years as runner-up, the Mountain Lions climbed back on top for their third title in five seasons.
“We never know who is going to step it up in a match,” Stinson said. “Tonight, in this state championship match, all of them stepped it up.”
Geist stepped up as the power hitter, recording 10 kills in the first two games, and Lacey Turner and Hayley Mommer provided plenty of offense at the net. Katherine Spahr was phenomenal on defense, as was Kendra Roark, with senior setter Megan Roark the force holding everything together.
Megan Roark set up nearly every big spike for Mountain View with pinpoint placement, and she always seemed to be in the right spot when needed.
But it was her trickery that did the most damage. Eight times in the first two games, Megan Roark recorded kills by faking a set and dinking the ball over the net.
“It’s called a dump. Kind of a weird name, but that’s what it’s called,” said Megan Roark, The Denver Post’s most valuable player of the tournament. “It keeps the blockers honest with me, so when I jump-set there are less blockers on the hitters.”
Cheyenne Mountain (28-3) was beset by hitting errors in the first two games, but rallied to take the third game. Senior Ali Risk dished to the heavy hitting Holly Hutchinson and Kendall Gaffney for points.
CLASS 4A ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Britt Geist, Mountain View, Jr.
Holly Hutchinson, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.
Morgan Klukkert, Regis, Jr.
Hayley Mommer, Mountain View, Sr.
Ali Risk, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.
Megan Roark, Mountain View, Sr.
MVP: Megan Roark
