Rocky Mountain News

HomeRockyPrepsVolleyball

1A volleyball: Fleming runs streak to 65 with back-to-back titles

Published November 8, 2008 at 10:55 p.m.

Once again, Fleming High School girls volleyball has no equal.

The Wildcats ended a dominating weekend by cruising past Otis 26-24, 25-19, 25-20 in the Class 1A championship match Saturday at the Denver Coliseum.

"The first state title was great, but this one also is pretty sweet," Fleming coach Derek Herbert said. "The girls just came together as a team and they were focused and got the job done."

The Wildcats finished the season with a perfect 33-0 record and now have won 65 matches in a row. The last time the Wildcats lost was in the 2A state championship match to Kit Carson in five games in 2006.

Fleming's six seniors — Alyssa Muller, Lynnae Cox, Amanda Wilkening, Bethany Atkin, Raylene Larson and Heather Brownell -- led the Wildcats to a 110-9 record during their four years.

"That's a pretty impressive record,” Herbert said. "These girls helped get other girls excited about our program."

Morgan Wilkening was one newcomer who made a huge impact for the Wildcats. The 5-foot-10 freshman had countless clutch spikes throughout the state tournament.

"This is so exciting to be a part of a state championship team,"

Wilkening, a middle hitter, said. "We have a great team and this is the goal that we were aiming to accomplish."

Otis ended its season with a 27-3 record and all three of those losses came against Fleming.

"I love my team to death and I wouldn't trade any of my players in for the world," Otis coach Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz said. "Fleming is just a better team. I hate to say that, but that's the truth."

Otis was trying to capture its third state volleyball title in school history.

The Bulldogs defeated Cheraw (15-6, 15-7) and Flagler (15-10, 12-15,

15-6) in 1998 and 2002, respectively.

"Otis is very good team and I could see us and them playing in state championship games for many years to come," Herbert said.

Fleming and Otis advanced to the finals by defeating McClave and Dove Creek in straight games in the semifinals Saturday afternoon.

Back to Top

Search »