(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
Fleming volleyball coach Derek Herbert can’t help but smile when he heads to the gym for preseason practice this year.
Herbert has one of those teams that, for Class 1A coaches, usually come far and between.
Fleming captured the 1A state title last fall with a junior-laden team. In fact, of the four seniors on the roster, only one started.
Among the returning starters who received all-state recognition last fall are 5-foot-11 middle hitter Timmi Keisel, 5-foot-2 libero Megan Chintala and 5-foot-6 setter Rachel Frantz — all first-team selections — along with second-team all-state outside hitter Deborah Kurtzer. Keisel was the 1A player of the year.
“We’ve got some talent,” an understated Herbert said, “but our biggest key is how we work together. A lot still has to come together.”
Fleming lost only two games in winning pool play, the semifinals and the championship match to take last year’s state title.
“It takes a lot of chemistry,” Herbert said of the main ingredient of earning a state championship. He should know. Last year’s title victory was Fleming’s fourth in seven years.
Fleming is No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
This season, the Wildcats open as No. 1 in the preseason rankings.
The road to a second straight state title will not be without its challenges. Of the eight teams qualifying for last year’s state tournament, only Dove Creek, which lost to Fleming in the title match, and Caliche were senior dominated. Caliche has since moved up to 2A.
Otis, a four-time state champion, graduated just one player. Idalia, which had no seniors on its state qualifying squad, could have perhaps the tallest team in 1A with 5-10 outside hitter Reagan Shaffer and 5-10 right-side hitter Stephanie Helling. The Bulldogs and Wolves should compete for supremacy in the YWKC League.
Sangre de Cristo, which qualified for last season’s 2A tournament, drops to and could be the team to get past in the Southern Peaks League. It also graduated just one player.
Look for 6-3 senior outside hitter Tanaia Hansen of Eads to be among the dominant forces on net. Kit Carson, another High Plains League power, is also expected to make a strong run toward a return state tournament appearance.
Another frequent state qualifier, Flager, will again be a force in the Lower Platte League.
Then there are teams such as Weldon Valley, which gave Fleming all it could handle in the district playoffs last November. The Warriors, which were a sophomore-dominated team, got better as the season progressed.
“1A’s going to be really tough,” said Herbert, who’s in his 11th season as the Wildcats’ head coach.
Fortunately for him, that starts with the defending state champs.
Class 1A volleyball
Defending champion: Fleming
Runner-up: Caliche (moved up to 2A)
Returning All-State players: Megan Chintala, Fleming, Sr. (1st); Rachel Frantz, Fleming, Sr. (1st); Tanian Hansen, Eads, Sr. (1st); Timmi Keisel, Fleming, Sr. (1st); Kylee Kuntz, Otis, Jr. (1st); Antonya Schaffert, Otis, Jr. (1st); Hanna Herman, Fleming, Sr. (2nd); Aurelia Isenbart, Kit Carson, Sr. (2nd); Brooklyn Krehmeyer, Weldon Valley, Jr. (2nd); Deborah Kurtzer, Fleming, Sr. (2nd); Reagan Shaffer, Idalia, Jr. (2nd).
Regular season begins: Aug. 21
Playoffs begin: Oct. 18
Championship: Nov, 7-8, Denver Coliseum