It started with a kill by Kendall Gaffney. Then it was teammate Megan Molner’s turn. Before Lewis-Palmer knew it, Cheyenne Mountain had built a six-point lead in the opening game of Saturday night’s 4A state volleyball championship match at the Denver Coliseum.
No matter how well the Rangers knew their Colorado Springs Metro League foes, they had no answer to the Indians’ march to a second straight title. Behind the play of tournament MVP Gaffney, Cheyenne Mountain scored its third victory this season over Lewis-Palmer and the second in two days, 25-13, 25-17, 25-21.
“I’m just really excited. It’s a great season, especially being my senior season,” Gaffney said.
Saturday’s final took shape like the previous two meetings. Cheyenne Mountain (28-0) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and went on a 7-1 run to take the first game in convincing fashion. Lewis-Palmer (24-8) — which had to overcome a grueling five-game defeat to Broomfield earlier, then beat the Eagles in a playoff to make the semifinals — closed the gap in the second game but not enough.
It wasn’t until the third game that the Rangers took their first lead. But with the game tied at 20, the Indians scored five of the next six points.
This year’s title, while different, wasn’t any more rewarding than last year’s, Cheyenne Mountain coach David Barkley said.
“Different, yes, but not sweeter,” Barkley said. “They’re amazingly sweet. I think the first one is always special. The second one is so wonderful. I think it’s hard to repeat. You’ve got that big mark on your back. I’m very proud of them. They were able to do it despite the fact that everyone’s gunning for you.”
Lewis-Palmer, seeded fifth, came a long way in making it to the final of the state tournament.
“I told the kids when we came in that it’s a huge accomplishment for us to finish second in the state,” Lewis-Palmer coach Susan Odenbaugh said. “They can hold their heads up real high.”
4A all-tournament team
Caitlin Dyche, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.
Kendall Gaffney, Chey. Mtn., Sr.
Kayla Johnson, Cheyenne Mtn., Sr.
Rachel Keyes, Mullen, Sr.
Natasha Ray, Cheyenne Mtn., Sr.
Kristen Sciacca, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.
MVP: Gaffney
