(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
MONUMENT — It would be hard to argue that Lewis-Palmer and Eaton are the two best volleyball programs in the state over the last four years.
The Reds have claimed the last four Class 3A state titles while the Rangers have taken three of the last four in 4A.
So when the two teams met at Lewis-Palmer High School on Friday, expectations were high for a what could’ve been an epic showdown between the top-ranked schools in their respective classes.
The first set delivered. And then Lewis-Palmer worked fast.
The Rangers came away with a 3-0 (28-26, 25-18, 25-19) sweep over the Reds in a convincing win that surprised even the Lewis-Palmer players.
“Yeah, especially coming from the first set,” senior Jadie DeLange said. “We knew the next two or three sets were going to be a battle. We have to work hard. It was kind of a relief to see that we can (play) a team so well.”
Eaton (10-1 overall) showed up ready to play, jumping out to a 11-7 lead at one point in the first set. But the Rangers (11-0) got timely kills from Trinity Jackson, who led the team with eight on the day, and seized momentum to grab a 17-14 lead.
“Having it being so close, we knew we had to keep up the intensity,” Jackson said. “We thought they were going to come at us more.”
A joint block from Adelaide Week and Riley Putnicki put the Rangers at set point, but a a kill from Eaton’s Makenzie Harris tied it up.
The teams traded points until the Rangers finally went up 28-26, winning the set and taking early control of the match.
“I knew we weren’t playing our best,” Lewis-Palmer coach Wade Baxter said. “We had a big match that took a lot out of us on Thursday. Valor was tough and there were a lot of long points. Our girls were tired.”
After the first set, they woke up.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
The Rangers built a 12-6 lead in the second set and Eaton wasn’t doing itself any favors as miscommunication led to several unforced errors.
“I don’t they served extremely tough at us where we couldn’t defend,” Eaton coach Gwen Forster said. “We just looked unaware. The communication piece just left us.”
Feek ended the second with a kill, giving the home crowd the feeling that a win was imminent.
The third set followed the pattern of the second as the Rangers jumped out to a big lead early. The hole proved to be too much for the Reds to dig out and in what could be the toughest test of its regular season, Lewis-Palmer looked ready to make a run at another state title.
“We have so much respect for them,” DeLange said. “They give us such good competition. This is a match we’ve been looking forward to for a while now. We’re always excited to play Eaton.”
The Rangers will head to Pine Creek on Tuesday before starting league play against No. 9 Palmer Ridge.
The Reds also begin league play this week when they head to Brush on Tuesday.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)