Fittingly, only a net came between Colorado’s two undefeated volleyball champions.
It took Fleming about an hour Saturday to cap a long, unbeaten season — its second straight. On each side of the nets that separate the courts at the Denver Coliseum, a few special moments were shared between the small-school power Wildcats and Cherry Creek Bruins, their big-school counterparts, who also ran the table in 2008.
High-fives and well-wishes were exchanged by players who refused to lose, and it was to be remembered.
What’s wrong with mixing Classes 1A and 5A?
“I’m very ecstatic,” Fleming freshman Morgan Wilkening said after a 26-24, 25-19, 25-20 decision of Otis for a second consecutive 1A title, a 33-0 mark on the season and 65-match winning streak.
It was the third time in 2008 the Wildcats swept three games from the Bulldogs, who finished 27-3, and longtime Otis coach Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz has been around long enough to know an exceptional team when she sees one.
“They’re good, they deserve it,” Wallin-Kuntz said. “They’re a very good team.”
Fleming actually trailed 24-23 in the first game, but used two big hits by Wilkening to take the lead and got a kill by Raylene Larson to seal it.
Fleming next flexed its muscles. The Wildcats ran to a 7-1 lead in Game 2 before weathering a late Bulldogs surge for a 25-19 victory, then turned in a carbon copy in Game 3. At one point, Fleming led 16-3 and was rolling, but had to overcome a rally attempt by Otis that eventually closed to 21-18. Fleming gathered its all-around game to win 25-20.
Along the way, Wilkening, Bethany Atkin, Lynnae Cox, Larson, Jena Monheiser and Jenna Vandenbark were among the leaders in kills, digs, blocks and serves, even a couple of dinks that caught the Bulldogs flat-footed. Meanwhile, Otis couldn’t maintain any momentum and took turns struggling, even a couple of plays in which players stopped, looked at each other and the ball fell in between them to the court.
Wilkening, who has played with most of the Wildcats since the third grade, admitted to being “scared to death” when reaching the Coliseum on Friday for early rounds, but Fleming coach Derek Herbert knew his team would handle it.
“They’re experienced kids who keep things in perspective,” he said. “They play one point at a time and stayed focused. They’re experienced and tremendous athletes.”
And champions, again.
Class 1A
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Bethany Atkin, Fleming, Sr.
Veronica Boyd, Dove Creek, Sr.
Lynnae Cox, Fleming, Sr.
Jessica Noble, Otis, Fr.
Anthonya Schaffert, Otis, So.
Morgan Wilkening, Fleming, Fr.
MVP: Morgan Wilkening
