The immensity of the moment and the glare of the volleyball season’s brightest spotlight undoubtedly will touch every athlete who steps into the Denver Coliseum on Friday for the state tournament’s opening day.
For those trying to uphold championship legacies, that burden might feel just a little bit heavier.
Defending state champions will attempt to retain their crowns in every classification when the state finals begin on Friday at 8 a.m., including two two-time defending champions — Fowler in Class 2A and Cheyenne Mountain in Class 4A — in addition to six-time defending champion Colorado Springs Christian in Class 3A.
Defending 5A state champion Ponderosa and defending 1A champion Otis also are seeking repeat titles.
“Obviously, with our history there is a certain level of comfort going in,” C.S. Christian coach Mike Broekhuis said. “Still, we have a few new faces, and there still is a little bit of that nervousness. No one wants to be that team that lets the streak end. My job is to keep them loose and just play our game. If we do that, we have as good a chance as anyone.”
While Broekhuis has the luxury of leaning on five seniors who have endured the rigors of the state finals on multiple occasions, Cheyenne Mountain is chasing its third title with a young group.
The Indians’ 36-match winning streak came to an end this season, but Cheyenne Mountain coach David Barkley understood the difficult schedule he put together would likely mean the end of the streak.
“We’re playing better and better,” Barkley said. “We took Pine Creek to four games. We took Ponderosa to five games. That kind of competition has been very important to us.”
