Behold, the power of team sleepovers.
After frustrating seasons of injury and chemistry that was one or two stirs shy of perfection, the Cherry Creek Bruins found nighttime chats produced better bonds than hiking and camping.
“We have worked hard all year just to play as a team, and when you get here you have to be able to do that,” longtime Bruins coach Sally Moos said. “You have to play with the mentality that you play for each other.”
The Bruins (31-0) won their first Class 5A state title since 1998 and fifth overall Saturday as they survived a wild first game to thump Centennial League rival Grandview 28-26, 25-11, 25-11 at the Denver Coliseum.
The preseason No. 1, Cherry Creek capped its first undefeated season by squeezing every ounce of talent from a lineup that operated with lethal efficiency.
The Bruins dominated the net and just got better as the Wolves (27-4), who were playing in their sixth consecutive finals, showed signs of mental fatigue.
“We’ve really found how important it is to just keep fighting,” Bruins outside hitter Carrie Baird said. “It’s such a momentum game that it can change at any second. It’s just about going out and doing the work.”
The Bruins certainly worked for it in the first game as they faced game point at 26-25. Senior Andi Weber came up with a huge block on Wolves’ standout Erica Denney to tie it at 26, and Grandview followed with two hitting errors to lose.
After that it was all Bruins. They marched out to an 18-4 lead in the second game on the strength of demoralizing blocks by Samantha Peters, Baird and Weber. Cherry Creek strode out to an 18-5 lead in the third game.
“Once we went on a run, you could see they started to break down a little bit,” Gabrielle Dewberry said. “Once we noticed that, we just kept trying to push as hard as we could.”
Baird had 12 kills, Elise Sage had nine and Peters had eight. Dewberry had four kills and 19 assists.
Wolves coach Patty Childress spoke of frustration as her team went from playing an amazing first game to slipping so far out of character.
Childress’ timeouts seemed to have no effect as the Bruins put down the hammer.
“It’s a pretty hopeless feeling, especially when they are so capable of doing really well,” she said.
Wolves’ setter Theresa Read had 16 assists in the first game but 15 in the next two combined.
Sarah Van Goethem had 12 kills and Denney had nine.
Class 5A
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Carrie Baird, Cherry Creek, Sr.
Erica Denney, Grandview, Jr.
Gabrielle Dewberry, Cherry Creek, Sr.
Samantha Peters, Cherry Creek, Sr.
Theresa Read, Grandview, Sr.
Erica Winkler, Highlands Ranch, Sr.
MVP: Carrie Baird
