The Colorado High School Activities Association couldn’t have given Durango a tougher regional draw.
The Demons were sent to Colorado Springs on Saturday to play Weld County and the No. 1-ranked team in CHSAA’s Class 4A volleyball rankings, Cheyenne Mountain (23-1), in the Region 1 round robin tournament.
No. 24 seeded Durango (14-11) made quick work of No. 36 Weld Central (14-11), winning the first match 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-14).
Durango senior Maddie Robertson led the way for the Demons with 15 kills. Sarah Waller added eight kills; Josie Surmeier had four blocks; Addison Swift racked up 28 assists; Lauran Morrissey led with 14 digs and Leah Stephens served three aces. The win set up a regional final match with the host Indians squad that only lost one game this season.
“We played really well in that first match, and I was so proud to see us come out with energy and take care of the business we should have taken care of,” Durango head coach Colleen Vogt said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We were excited to have the chance to knock off the best team in the state.”
According to Vogt, Durango started the match well but was eventually worn down by the number of weapons the state’s top team had at its disposal.
Cheyenne Mountain proved worthy of the No. 1 seed and swept Durango 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-12) to clinch a berth in CHSAA’s Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament.
Robertson led the team again in the final match with nine kills. Swift had 15 assists and Stephens added six digs in the loss.
“I knew we were going to need our best game to hang in there with them,” Vogt said. “In the end, I told the girls to remember how much we enjoyed being a team. They won’t remember the scores (Saturday) but they’ll remember the friendships we made and the hard work we all put in together. That’s what’s most important.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
