Brian MillerThey are two of the state’s elite talents, bursting onto the state volleyball scene as freshmen and immediately making their presence known.
But headed into the final few games of their respective regular seasons, senior Melissa Evans of Highlands Ranch and Tarynn Sieg of Eaton have found that their postseason paths have branched off in different directions.
Sieg has been a key part of three consecutive Class 3A state titles with Eaton, which is attempting to become the first program to win four championships in a row since Cheyenne Mountain won five in 4A from 2008-12.
Evans, on the other hand, is attempting to lead the Falcons back to state for the only second time in her tenure. Highlands Ranch was the No. 11 overall seed and hosted a regional last fall, but Fairview eliminated the Falcons on its way to the 5A title match.
“It was devastating for us not to reach our goal from the beginning of the season,” Evans said. “Those teams put everything on the court and it really shows. I think most of the girls on this team now understand that and we’re just trying to perform the best we can.”
Their collegiate career paths will separate even more next year – Evans is headed to North Carolina State to further her volleyball career, while Sieg will put her focus into track and field at Colorado State. But for now, the seniors have similar missions – make every second count for however long their time lasts.
“I honestly don’t feel like I only have a month left in the season, if that,” Sieg said. “I don’t think it’s really hit me that it’s going to be coming to an end. But I feel Thursday night it will hit me once my parents come down for senior night.
“This is the last volleyball for me. I don’t think it’s really hit me knowing that this is it. I don’t really get anything after this.”
Sieg, teammates aim to further Eaton’s legacy
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Sieg wasted little time establishing herself in Eaton’s rotation her freshman season, finishing fourth on the team in kills and leading the Reds in blocks. Each year she has continued to progress, soaking in the knowledge from the seniors that came before her, like two-time Player of the Year Kortney Lockey and 2015 POY Caiden Rexius.
“Luckily I had seniors when I was growing in the sport that would allow me to express who I was on the court,” Sieg said. “They allowed me to be a leader, and one way I’m changing this year is knowing how to let the underclassmen express themselves … knowing my way of leadership isn’t the only way.”
Sieg has been honored as first-team all-state by CHSAANow.com in each of the previous two seasons. She tallied 301 kills and 92 blocks as a junior, and is up to 242 kills and 93 blocks this season with two regular-season matches remaining.
“She’s always made an impact and she knows she gives us her best and that’s what we expect from her,” Eaton coach Gwen Forster said. “Now it’s different in the fact that that this is her senior year, and she’s got to have everybody on board with her too.”
Sieg is one of six seniors for the Reds, who have won 16 in a row since dropping their season opener to 4A powerhouse Lewis-Palmer. Sophomore Makenzie Harris has been a good complement to Sieg, and junior setter Chelsey Lockey continues to excel in running the team’s potent offense.
Eaton, ranked No. 1 in 3A, closes with No. 5 Resurrection Christian and No. 3 Valley this week.
Sieg said that the way she’s been able to connect with teammates has been the most important part of her time at Eaton, and that those memories will mean more in the long run.
Instead of attempting to match what past teams have accomplished, she said pursuing a fourth state title is more about continuing the growth of the program in the future.
“If you try to live with what they’ve done in the past,” she said, “you only relive what they did and you don’t live in your own moment.”
Evans, Falcons are chasing state
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For three years, Evans and her older sister Jasmine were a force to be reckoned with for the Falcons. Jasmine led Highlands Ranch in kills in 2013 and 2014, with Melissa not far behind. Last year it was Melissa’s turn to lead, as the 6-foot right-side hitter soared to a team-high 439 kills to Jasmine’s 378.
While the sisters may be apart this year, it won’t be for long. Both players will begin their college careers at N.C. State next year. (Jasmine took this year off to recover from a foot injury.)
“We’ll be playing together again for the next four years, so that will be pretty exciting,” Melissa said. “That was exciting for me to know that N.C. State really wanted to see both of us in their program.”
There is still some unfinished business that needs to be handled first though. After a slow start to the season thanks to some growing pains, Highlands Ranch is currently ranked seventh in 5A and is on a seven-match winning streak headed into Tuesday night’s Continental League contest with Heritage.
Junior Kelsie Milkowski is second on the team to Evans in kills and digs, and the team has utilized a pair of setters to run the offense.
The Falcons got off to a 6-0 start in the league and earlier this season handed top-ranked Rock Canyon its only loss. But Highlands Ranch, ranked No. 7 in 5A, closes the regular season against No. 6 Mountain Vista and No. 8 Chaparral before a rematch with No. 1 Rock Canyon.
“This next part of the season will be a lot tougher than the first half,” Falcons coach Louis Krauss said. “If we want to do anything at state, we’re going to have to be consistent and maintain that consistency and not have those mental errors we’ve had at times.”
Evans said she’s worked to be more consistent in her hitting in her first full year playing the outside. She said over the final few weeks she has tried to better herself in other areas to be a complete player.
“Melissa has always been athletically pretty gifted. Over the years she has gotten better with her focus on the details and a little more focus on the weight room and getting stronger so she can maintain throughout the year,” Krauss said. “She’s always been real competitive though. She doesn’t like to lose, and that’s a good quality.”
Last year’s setback has been a big motivating factor for Evans and her teammates. Krauss noted that his squad had to battle in the regional opener last November to outlast Columbine, and didn’t have much left for Fairview.
That’s something that can’t happen this time around if Highlands Ranch wants to return to the Denver Coliseum.
“Practices are more about maintaining mental focus and being able to repeat quality plays over and over again instead of having a few flashes here or there,” he said. “That’s what it takes at regionals.
“It’s pretty fresh in their minds how that worked last year as well.”