GREELEY — Shanae Gonzales spent her prep career setting girls not much taller than herself at Valley High School.
Saturday at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion, Gonzales got to play with the trees in the all-state volleyball finals.
“It was amazing setting those bigger girls — ones that can put the ball down so very well,” said Gonzales, who will attend Northwestern Community College in Rangely.
Gonzales had 16 assists and Durango hitters Jessica Wilson and Jazmin Stoner combined for 19 kills to lead the Black team to victory in four games against the Blue squad: 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23.
Mari Stoeber of Sangre de Cristo had seven kills, Caitlin Hladky of Valley had six kills and Ralston Valley setter/hitter Beverly Storrs tossed up 13 assists to go with five kills for the Black squad.
“The first day, we really bonded. It was really cool,” said the Fort Lewis-bound Wilson, who also had two blocks. “The whole team was just, like, really funny. I think that helped a lot.”
The Blue squad lacked the hitting depth and some of the timing at the net. Fleming middle Amy Einspahr had seven kills and four blocks, Weldon Valley’s Kristen Groves had six kills and two blocks, and Burlington outside hitter Morgan Witzel had five kills and two assists. Rubi Gutierrez of Kit Carson had 14 assists and Hannah Eberle of Ralston Valley had 13 helpers.
“We had a lot more fun together, I think,” said Eberle, who will pursue dentistry at Creighton. “We got to hang out and I met some really great girls. Maybe the practices weren’t as intense as other practices, but overall, it’s really just what the draw is.”
The teams split the first two games, but the Black team took the pivotal third game behind Stoner and some timely minutes from Basalt’s Dayne Toney, who was playing with a cracked pelvis. Stoner’s kill tied the game 18-18, and the Black team wouldn’t trail again as Stoeber hit the game-winning kill in a 25-20 victory.
The Blue squad was in position to force a fifth game when blocks by Einspahr helped extend the lead to 21-18. But the Black team rallied behind Hladky and five service winners by Bayfield’s Jennifer Visser for the 25-23 victory.
