Lewis-Palmer seeks return to the top

If Lewis-Palmer can avenge its only loss, the Rangers could win their first state volleyball title since claiming back-to-back crowns in 2001-02.

Those were Class 4A titles, but the No. 2 seed Rangers hope to earn the 5A championship when action begins today in the two-day state tournament at the Denver Coliseum. Pine Creek is the No. 5 seed in 5A while Cheyenne Mountain is No. 2 in the 4A tourney.

“We’re in the tougher of the two pools, so we’ve got our work cut out for us,” Lewis-Palmer coach Susan Odenbaugh said. “We know we have to play our best, but all year we’ve done that against our best competition.”

Since a four-game loss to No. 1 seed Grandview (26-0), Lewis-Palmer has won 24 straight, with only Doherty and Air Academy taking the Rangers to five games.

“I think we were a little intimidated by Grandview and didn’t play our best,” said Odenbaugh. “Against Mountain Vista in the last game of regionals, we played the best I’ve ever seen a team from Lewis-Palmer play.”

Lewis-Palmer is led by the senior quartet of 6-foot-3 Ariana Filho, setter Natalie Laband, Sarah Marietta and Jennifer Kagarise. Junior libero Shelbi Pitcher, 6-1 sophomore Christi Limpert and seniors Sarah Adams and Kelly Drexler are other key contributors.

The top two from each pool advance to a semifinal with the championship match at 7 p.m.

Lewis-Palmer (25-1) and No. 3 Eaglecrest (24-2), the defending champion, figure to reach the semifinals. Grandview tops the other pool, which features No. 4 Cherry Creek (21-5) and No. 5 Pine Creek (21-5).

“Grandview’s probably the favorite, but I think anybody can win,” Pine Creek coach Paul Waring said.

Setter Cindy Bathelt leads the Eagles along with fellow seniors Anne Fredell and Jordan Harline and junior Kelsi Klikus.

In 4A, Cheyenne Mountain (24-2) lost in the semifinals last fall to champion Battle Mountain.

Indians setter Ali Risk feeds seniors Jill Tooma and Tyler Miller plus juniors Laura Brodie and Holly Hutchison and sophomore Kendall Gaffney.

“We won conference, district and regional,” Indians coach David Barkley said. “There is one more left.”