Air Academy came into Rampart's gymnasium
last week ready to play.
"We knew we really had to compete," Air Academy standout Jenny Mills said. "Rampart's the top-ranked team in the state, so
we had nothing to lose. We dug deep and played hard."
The Kadets (12-4, 1-2 in league) showed their
competitive spirit early as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first game behind
some strong serving by Megan Jackson.
"Air Academy came out strong," Rampart
senior Chelsee Hurley said. "They were into it and their defense was very scrappy.
Fortunately, we were able to pull it together and then have some fun in the second
game."
The Rams (14-1, 3-0) fought back from
the early deficit to win the first game 15-8. Then they claimed the second game
15-7 to win the match and stay undefeated in league.
"Jenny Mills kept them in the game," Rampart
coach Rick Kamm explained. "They were digging the ball and definitely kept things
respectable."
Mills led the Kadets with seven kills -
almost as many as the next two highest hitters combined, Francesca Monti (5 kills)
and Keahilani Kaleo (3 kills). But where Air Academy really stood out was in its
digging. The Kadets tallied 29 digs, led by Kaleo's 8, Laurel Miller's 7 and
Brittany Hartman's 5. Miller also had 16 assists.
"That's how we beat Doherty in the first
game," Air Academy coach Denise Anderson said. "We dug great."
Mills agreed that the Kadet defense
stayed strong all game. "Our defense played pretty well," she said. "But our
offense could've been stronger."
Rampart made it difficult for Air Academy's offense.
"We had three goals tonight," Kamm said.
"No. 1, we wanted to serve tough, which weakens our opponent's transition game and
gives us more free balls. No. 2, we wanted to run as many quick sets as we could
to get our middles involved. And No. 3, defensive schemes."
"Thank God our passing was on tonight," Hurley said. "Otherwise the middles don't get much. Of course, we have an awesome setter who allows us to show off what we can do."
Rampart setter Christina Van Der Most ended the game with 30 assists by spreading things out to many of the Rams' weapons. Heidi Kellermann and Kristen Karlik each had eight kills, and Brittney Ray tallied seven. Kellermann also led the team in digs with nine, while Breanna Van Der Most finished with seven, Ray claimed six, Christina Van Der Most had five and Andrea Murphy chimed in with three.
The Rams end the regular season this week and are looking forward to making a run for the state title. So far this year they're 1-1 against last year's state champ, Smoky Hill. And the two teams appear to be on a collision course in this year's 5A final. But Kamm is quick to say the Rams aren't looking ahead.
"We still have some tests out there," Kamm explained. "When you're on the top of the hill it's sometimes easy to get complacent, so it's my job to make sure that doesn't happen."
While Rampart has made frequent trips to state, Air Academy's volleyball team has never advanced that far - and that's something Anderson wants to change.
Anderson coached volleyball for 22 years in Minnesota, where she won a state championship and was runner-up twice. For the past three years, she's coached the JV program at Coronado. And now she's excited about the team she has at Air Academy.
"They're excellent girls," Anderson said. "I told them that they're the best kept secret in Colorado Springs. Our goal this year is to go to state. We've never been there before, but I know we can do it."
Jenny Mills helped keep the Kadets close with seven kills.
If the Kadets continue to play with the energy and determination they showed against the Rams, they have the chance to achieve that goal.
"We knew how strong Rampart would be," Anderson said. "When you play against the No. 10 team in the nation, every point is a victory."