Volleyball: No. 1 Rampart def. No. 2 Doherty 16-14, 15-11

Match lives up to hype

The Gazette, October 2, 2002, Sports p. 8

Rampart takes seesaw contest against Doherty

By Scott Prater
The Gazette

       Breanna Van Der Most saw the ball flying off the side of the court and instinctively chased it. In a last-ditch effort, she dived into the front row of fans. Somehow, she got arm on the ball.
       What looked like a sure point for host Doherty turned into a sideout for Rampart and wound up giving Van Der Most's teammates a spark.
       Trailing by four at that point, Rampart rallied to take the first game, then overcame Doherty's five-point lead in the second to win the 5A Metro League match 16-14, 15-11 before 1,100 at Doherty's Gym Tuesday night.
       In the first game, the teams lived up to the hype surrounding a matchup that pitted Pikes Peak No. 1 Rampart against No. 2 Doherty (13-2, 1-1) .
       The Rams came in ranked No. 6 nationally, and on a 10-match win streak. Doherty, ranked 33, had won 10 in a row as well and came in intent on knocking off a Rampart's group of core players that have won the past two 5A Metro titles.
       With Rampart (13-1, 2-0) playing what coach Rick Kamm called slow, Doherty crept to a 5-1 lead. But neither team managed to score more than a couple of consecutive points.
       As each point began getting longer, with multiple hits, digs, blocks, and more digs, the crowd fed themselves.

Rampart's fans erupted on each point won, Doherty's fans likewise on each Spartan point.
       But the freshman Van Der Most seemed unaffected.
       "Her save in the first I think was a turning point," Kamm said. "I was just waiting for someone to step up and make that (type) play, when somebody sets the standard like that it makes a huge difference."
       Senior outside hitters Heidi Kellermann and Kristen Karlik are better known for taking over a match, but Tuesday night, along with Van Der Most, it was senior hitter Brittney Ray who provided the hitting power in the first game. Ray finished with seven kills, six came in the first game.
       "She's often overlooked because teams are really tuning in on Kristen and Heidi," Kamm said. "But that's a serious mistake, she's a smart hitter and makes the most of what she has."
       Still, Rampart hardly dominated.
       The teams combined for 43 sideouts in the first game as Doherty setter Shannon Krug (29 assists) showed her opponents a multitude of different deliveries.
       Kamm was most impressed however, in the Spartans' defense.
       "I scouted them on three different occasions prior to tonight's game and not once did I see the type of defense they displayed tonight." Kamm said. "They're a great team who can take a lot of positives out of this matchup."
photo by Andy Rogers, the Gazette
Rampart's Callie Kiselich, left, and Brittney Ray attempt to block a spike by Michelle Pape of Doherty during Tuesday's match at Doherty High School.