Resurrection Christian claimed last year’s Class 2A championship. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
Last year, the Resurrection Christian volleyball team was somewhat of an unknown quantity.
By season’s end, all of Class 2A knew just how good the Cougars were.
Resurrection Christian, which is located in Loveland, had a perfect season, posting a 29-0 record en route to capturing the first volleyball state championship in school history.
Now, the Cougars have reloaded for another run at state supremacy.
“I have very high expectations (for 2014),” veteran coach Caleb Howard said. “The girls are not mincing words. They want to win state again.”
Howard and his team has reason to be confident.
The Cougars return two first-team all-state players, outside hitter Preston Lienemann and setter Madison Webb — both seniors — and second-team all-state selection Abby Skipworth, a junior outside hitter.
And they opened at No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.
(Courtesy of Resurrection Christian)
“We are not going to sneak up on anybody this year,” Howard said. “We were a bit of underdog last year for sure. At the beginning of the summer I did worry some about fighting off apathy or simply resting on our laurels, but as the summer progressed I don’t have to worry about that anymore because of the competitive nature of these girls.”
Resurrection Christian defeated Lutheran (25-18, 25-19, 25-13) in the state title match a year ago, but Lutheran will not be a contender for the 2A crown this season as the school has moved up to 3A volleyball.
“Yuma was a young team last year and we expect them to be very good again this season,” Howard said. “Then, you have some teams that are always good like Fowler and Akron.”
The last time Resurrection Christian lost a match was in pool play during the 2012 state tournament.
“I loaded up the schedule this season with a couple of 4A teams and some 3A teams,” Howard said. “Our goal is to try and win every match, but we just want to be playing our best at the end of the season.”
Class 2A volleyball
Defending champion: Resurrection Christian
Runner-up: Lutheran (moved up to 3A)
Returning All-State players: Jordan Baer, Akron, Sr. (1st); Preston Lienemann, Resurrection Christian, Sr. (1st); Tara Traphagan, Yuma, Jr. (1st); Madison Webb, Resurrection Christian, Sr. (1st); Bryna Burns, Sr., Rye (2nd); Taylor Carsten, Paonia, Jr. (2nd); Braya Hunt, Denver Christian, Jr. (2nd); Aly Ridings, Sr., Meeker (2nd); Leah Roberson, Sr., Swink (2nd); Abby Skipworth, Jr., Resurrection Christian (2nd);
Regular season begins: Aug. 21
Playoffs begin: Oct. 18
Championship: Nov, 7-8, Denver Coliseum