(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
DENVER — More than 300 schools in Colorado have a volleyball program. 10 earned the right to play in the state finals on Saturday evening at the Denver Coliseum.
In Class 1A, Fleming (29-2) won its sixth state championship by defeating Kit Carson in three straight set victories of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-20. Fleming, who was appearing in its eighth state final in ten years, handed Kit Carson (27-1) its first loss of the season.
After outlasting Prairie 3-1 with a memorable 40-38 deciding set in the semifinals, the Wildcats had enough in reserves to win the final match. Second-year head coach Doug Kamery, who took over for Derek Herbert (12-year veteran, five state championships), claimed title No. 1. ‘
“It’s just amazing, it’s absolutely amazing,” Kamery said. “We’ve been here 11 years and this is the only court we have not won on. 11 years ago Kit Carson beat us on this court. It was a great honor to win tonight.”
Kit Carson claimed their only state championship in volleyball in 2006 over Fleming and was appearing in their third title match. Each set, Kit Carson would apply some pressure on Fleming, but not enough. The attacking core of junior Alli Keisel (13 kills), and seniors Shaylee Johnson (nine) and Jessica Williams (eight), proved insurmountable for Kit to overcome.
“This has been my dream,” Johnson, a second team all-state honoree in 2015, said. “My sisters have been here before me and so it really feels good to have completed this in my senior year.”
Fleming also captured 1A in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2014. Six titles ties the program for the sixth-most in volleyball with Cheyenne Mountain and Colorado Springs Christian.
“The team really worked hard,” Johnson said. “We’re really close off and on the court. We all pulled together.”
Fleming enriched an already sterling tradition in volleyball. But, this was the first under Kamery as the head coach. He had been an assistant during three other runs to the Coliseum.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“We’ve had the honor of being in the final four or better for the last 11 years now, so to get that state championship on the 11th is amazing,” Kamery added.
“I’m just so elated to finally do it on this court.”
Kit Carson, under 21-year veteran coach Penny Isenbart, won 3-0 over Kiowa in the semifinals. The school has won two state championships in boys basketball, to go with the one in volleyball.
Tess Hornung, a 6-1 sophomore, was a strong presence on the attack throughout the season. Senior Shayla Bogenhagen and sophomore McKenzie Smith were among the other high-level players for a team that finished as the runner-up.
Kit Carson will return a wealth of talent in 2017, while Fleming will do much the same.