When Morgan Broekhuis was a freshman, she was kind of like the fifth Beatle.
Basking in the spotlight that accompanied arguably the best team in the state regardless of classification, the Class 3A Colorado Springs Christian Lions polished off their third consecutive state title in 2006 behind a fab four of All-Colorado and all-state talent.
Broekhuis was the footnote. She was just that “6-foot blond left-hander,” even though she later earned a first team all-state selection.
Then a funny thing happened over the next two years. Broekhuis grew to 6-5; her dad, Mike, became coach, and the Lions have won state every year since.
Now an All-Colorado senior, Broekhuis heads up another talented team that is the overwhelming favorite to make a substantial mark in state history by bringing home a sixth consecutive title.
“How many people can say you experienced that? Not just once, but four times,” said Broekhuis, who is bound for powerhouse Nebraska and played this summer with the U.S. junior national team.
Four state titles would be the one feat the previous pioneering quartet of Lauren Rosenthal, Lisa Meeter, Marissa Hornbaker and Amy Whitlow didn’t experience.
Sitting on five consecutive titles, the Lions are tied for second in the state annals with Merino, which won from 1987 to 1991. The Lions would move into second by themselves with another win at the Coliseum in November, only trailing Evergreen’s streak of eight titles when the Cougars won everything from 1978 to 1985.
More recently, Grandview is the closest to a dynasty, having been in the last six 5A title games, winning three.
“It kind of showed us the level of volleyball we can play,” Broekhuis said of that 2006 team. “It prepared us well and got us ready for the next level.”
The next level has a high ceiling in Broekhuis’ case. A setter and opposite hitter, she put up solid stats for the junior national team, despite its lackluster 12th-place finish at July’s FIVB world championships in Mexico. She wants to win everything she can as a Husker and would love to play professionally, even if that means living abroad.
“To get paid for doing something you love . . .” she said.
Broekhuis has played with current teammates and standouts Brianne VandeGriend, Hannah Walker and Heather Poll since they were in seventh grade. That’s when Broekhuis was evolving from the basketball player her and her father thought she would be, into a volleyball player.
“She has really learned how to not just hit the ball hard,” Mike Broekhuis said. “She has pretty good diversity. She’s got a wide variety of shots she’s learned over the years.”
Mike, always a basketball coach, still uses basketball analogies in volleyball practice and sometimes brings the kind of aggressiveness he used to in boys hoops. The girls understand, and Morgan sees it in a bigger context.
“He’s like us,” she said. “He’s willing to learn and willing to get better.”
And maybe that is why these Lions have become the pride of prep volleyball.
Class 5A
Chaparral hasn’t been the buzz of the offseason since the Wolverines advanced to the 2005 state final. Their height across the board gives them the early nod, but then there is the Centennial League — which has had at least one team in the final every year since 1996 — including defending champs Cherry Creek, last year’s finalist Grandview, Arapahoe and Eaglecrest.
Top 10 teams
1. Chaparral
2. Grandview
3. Cherry Creek
4. H. Ranch
5. Doherty
6. Eaglecrest
7. Ponderosa
8. Arapahoe
9. Mtn. Vista
10. Rampart
Returning all-state players
Alysa Birdsall, Cherokee Trail, Jr.
Morgan Bohl, Eaglecrest, Jr.
Megan Buckingham, H. Ranch, Sr.
Erica Denney, Grandview, Sr.
Rachel Gillcrist, Lakewood, Sr.
Morgan Gradishar, Grandview, Jr.
Kendall Howard, Ponderosa, Sr.
Shelby Schacher, Arapahoe, Sr.
Taylor Simpson, Doherty, Jr.
Katelyn Turner, Mountain Vista, Sr.
Erica Winkler, Highlands Ranch, Sr.
Class 4A
Roosevelt has the most talent left on the shelf, but the Northern League, which includes Sterling and Windsor, remains a forced march for any team. Defending champion Cheyenne Mountain remains in the mix, as do a loaded Mullen, Lewis-Palmer and Montrose.
Top 10 teams
1. Roosevelt
2. Mullen
3. Chey. Mtn.
4. Sterling
5. Windsor
6. Berthoud
7. Lewis-Palmer
8. Skyline
9. Montrose
10. Centaurus
Returning all-state players
Kate Baals, Golden, Sr.
Kelsie Dardis, Montrose, Sr.
Allie Freiwald, Mullen, Sr.
Sami Fuentes, Roosevelt, Jr.
Kendall Gaffney, Cheyenne Mtn., Sr.
Courtney Geesing, Montrose, Sr.
Rachel Keyes, Mullen, Sr.
Leahi Lolotai, Centaurus, Sr.
Kelsey O’Connor, Wheat Ridge, Sr.
Natasha Ray, Cheyenne Mtn., So.
Kristen Sciacca, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.
Janae Vander Ploeg, Chey. Mtn., So.
Sendy Valles, Roosevelt, Sr.
Megan Velasquez, Roosevelt, Sr.
Morgan Woodruff, Berthoud, Sr.
Class 3A
Colorado Springs Christian likely won’t be touched, pushed, harried or harassed this season as the Lions go for their sixth straight title.
Top 10 teams
1. C.S. Christian
2. Valley
3. Classical Acad.
4. Faith Christ.
5. Eaton
6. University
7. Platte Valley
8. Bayfield
9. Middle Park
10. Lamar
Returning all-state players
Lauren Alejo, The Classical Acad., Sr.
Sierra Bennett, Valley, Sr.
Morgan Broekhuis, C.S. Christ., Sr.
Carsyn Garcia, University, Jr.
Meagan Garcia, Valley, So.
Savannah Garcia, Valley, Sr.
Hanna Gibeau, Faith Christian, Sr.
Gracie Howe, Eaton, Sr.
Elsa Krieg, Middle Park, Jr.
Stephi Matsushima, Valley, Jr.
Lindy Matthews, University, Jr
Jamie Pickett, Faith Christian, Jr.
Heather Poll, C.S. Christian, Sr.
Katie Reininger, Classical Acad., So.
Gabriela Rifilato, Bayfield, Sr.
Kelly Tycksen, Faith Christian, Sr.
Brianne VandeGriend, C.S. Christ., Sr.
Hannah Walker, C.S. Christian, Sr.; Emily Weingartner, Faith Christ., Sr.
Class 2A
The Grizzlies are the runaway favorites for their second straight title and 12th overall since 1981 as they lost just one senior. Of course, the road to state is never forgiving, so keep an eye on Simla, Burlington, Sangre de Cristo, Resurrection Christian, Limon and Merino.
Top five teams
1. Fowler
2. Simla
3. Resurrection Christian
4. Rangely
5. Sangre de Cristo
Returning all-state players
Taylor Castillo, Kiowa, Sr.
Anna Dewald, Resurrection Christ., Sr.
Amanda Godwin, Paonia, Sr.
April Gonzales, Fowler, Jr.
Caitlyn Hubbard, Limon, Jr.
Julia Karlin, Resurrection Christ., Sr.
Bethany Klinkerman, Fowler, Jr.
Tatum Martinez, Mancos, Sr.
Brooke McKinley, Sangre de Cristo, Sr.
Cami Moore, Simla, Sr.
Marie Morton, Rangely, Jr.
Bethany Moss, Fowler, So.
Jessie Paquin, Mancos, Sr.
Victoia Phelan, Rangely, Jr.
Karlee Wager, Fowler, Jr.
Class 1A
Derek Herbert’s Fleming factory looks loaded enough for a fourth consecutive appearance in the state final, the last two having ended in victories. The Wildcats should hold off challengers from Otis.
Top five teams
1. Fleming
2. Otis
3. Hi-Plains
4. Kit Carson
5. Liberty (Joes)
Returning all-state players
Cedar Bellows, Liberty (Joes), Jr.
Adrianne Cline, McClave, Sr.
Beth Cooper, Hi-Plains, Sr.
Jana Elrick, Flagler, So.
Kaitlyn Hanson, North Park, Sr.
Cassia Kent, Kit Carson, Jr.
Kati Kuntz, Otis, So.
Whitney McCaffrey, Hi-Plains, Sr.
Briana Medford, Kit Carson, Sr.
Jessica Noble, Otis, So.
Kayla Pribble, Dove Creek, Sr.
Kelsey Schmidt, Fleming, Jr.
Kayla Schwartz, Flagler, So.
Jenna Vandenbark, Fleming, Jr.
Lori Weirich, Eads, Sr.
Morgan Wilkening, Fleming, So.
