A new year comes with a new team and a new playing style for Durango volleyball head coach Kelley Riffilato.
Gone are last year’s impactful seniors Sarah Somrak, Brooklyn Messier and Aava Dreger. These girls helped lead the Demons to a 15-10 overall record and a 6-2 record in 4A/5A Southwestern League. Durango played a very tough schedule to prepare for playoffs last year but the Demons lost in regionals to Palisade.
Now new players are stepping up as the season’s opening game at Delta on Aug. 27 comes closer.
“The chemistry was so fun to watch this summer,” Riffilato said. “It was really fun to watch because sometimes you never know how that's how that's going to be. It really is developing. This group is a fun group that really enjoys playing together. That's going to be fun to watch from the people in the stands are going to enjoy that. They really like to have fun, and they really hold each other to a high standard. They've all been so committed to volleyball this year. That’s what will show on the court.”
Riffilato said there has been tremendous interest and participation in the offseason. There were 74 girls who tried out for volleyball at the start of this week. Riffilato said most of them have played high-level volleyball before and in the summer. Open gyms were packed since the start of spring. Many girls participated in a grass doubles tournament and practiced doubles on grass.
Cuts were made this week from the 74 girls who came out for a chance at either varsity, JV, C1 or C2. Riffilato said the program is down to 52 girls stretched over the four teams. The JV team is made up of freshmen, sophomores and a few juniors. The C1 team has both freshmen and sophomores and the C2 team has only freshmen. Riffilato likes to leave some spots open on the varsity team so that JV players can be rewarded for their great seasons and get pulled up to varsity at the end of the season.
Junior Hadyn Neiman will be one of the top players for the Demons this season. She had a starring role last season as a sophomore on varsity. A 5-foot-9-inch outside hitter, Neiman led Durango with 141 kills last year, was third on the team with 25 aces and fourth on the team with 237 digs.
“Someone everyone rallies around all the time and is just that natural-born leader is Hadyn Neiman,” Riffilato said. “She doesn't care where she plays and she just plays at 100% all the time. She's very coachable and she's well-liked by her teammates. When you have someone like that who is a natural-born leader you just want to play for them.”
Senior Avery Rike has made huge improvements and Riffilato is excited to see her play. The 5-10 outside hitter has great confidence, is explosive and dynamic. She’s a winner no matter what the team does in the gym.
A big part of any volleyball team is who plays the libero position. Last year Brooklyn Messier did a good job at that position but now that she’s gone, there’s some competition for who’s going to get that spot. Senior Tyler Trujillo is contending for that position. She’s a fantastic server who’s been firing on all cylinders after missing her basketball season with an injury.
Riffilato said there are a lot of players on the team who are interchangeable so she thinks many players will battling with Trujillo for the libero spot.
There will be some new faces inside the volleyball court in Durango High School. One promising player is transfer Aysia Mathews. She’s moved to Durango from Mancos and will be a junior. She’s a 5-11 left-handed hitter/setter who should be a nice compliment to the other players and is a hard worker, according to Riffilato.
Three freshmen will be on varsity and could make an impact. Devyn Edwards is a 5-9 outside hitter who comes from a volleyball family. Her sister Madi plays volleyball for Fort Lewis. Riffilato said she’s very strong and composed.
Ferah Fowler is a 5-10 outside hitter/middle backer who has a high vertical and is a strong attacker. Brie Finneseth is a 5-10 middle backer who is a strong blocker and has great energy.
This year’s playing style will be different from last year’s. Riffilato said this year’s team should play faster and with more confidence. They’ll be a lot better defensively and they’ll have great balance.
Durango volleyball has moved up from class 4A to 5A. The Demons will stay in the 4A/5A SWL and Palisade and Montrose are joining the league. Riffilato said no game in the league can be overlooked with Fruita Monument, Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central all having some quality players and a quality coach.
Riffilato also said the nonleague schedule will be tough with no easy games, including the opener at Delta.
The Demons aren’t highly rated in the preseason coaches poll with Durango not included in the 5A top 10 or others receiving votes.
Riffilato wasn’t surprised because of the classification move-up. She knows the Demons need show their fellow 5A teams they can win and are a high-level program.
“This group talks about winning things,” Riffilato said. “They want to win, and they want to be they want to play at the highest level. They know when they play well and they know when they don't play well and they’re very matter-of-fact about that. This is a great beginning because we haven't started yet.”
Riffilato said even the reps the girls got last fall will factor into their confidence to be ready this year.
“The kids that played club ball this winter, getting to play against some of the really high-level national teams is eye-opening,” Riffilato said. “Club is different because it's a collection of the best in your area. These older kids, the juniors and the seniors, want to be that next-level volleyball player. They aspire to play in college. They want to continue to grow and improve and get better.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
