Rivalry reaches boiling point

By Brian Forbes
Special to The Denver Post

It's not your standard rivalry. In fact, neither student body realizes the scope of this rivalry.

On the surface, it appears downright strange for two Class 5A schools to be so close competitively yet separated by 59 miles of open road. But there's no doubt the biggest volleyball game of the year for Aurora's Smoky Hill and Rampart, from Colorado Springs, is when they face each other.

It's a rivalry that goes back to the seventh grade and is in its final chapter this season as the squads, ranked Nos. 1 and 2 to start the season in The Denver Post/9News poll, are senior-laden to the core.

"(The rivalry) started at 14 and will end at 18," said Ashley Nu'u, Smoky Hill's senior setter who helped lead the Buffaloes to last year's state championship. "It will be fun, the journey we've all taken."

And the mileage of that journey is staggering. From countless encounters at both the club and prep levels, these girls have battled and one-upped one another on a year-round basis. At Smoky Hill, it's the Nu'u twins - Ashley and Amber, plus Cassy Salyer and Simona Speed. The Rams' core includes Christina Van Der Most, Heidi Kellermann, Kristen Karlik and Brittney Ray.

"We've always been rivals with that core group in club, and that transfers over to high school," said Ray, an outside hitter.

The Nu'u girls and Salyer are hoping their latest club achievement - winning the USA Junior Nationals with the Front Range Volleyball Club - will serve them well in their bid to repeat as state champions.

And the all-time series is in Smoky Hill's favor. As freshmen, these two core groups (minus Speed, who transferred to Smoky Hill from Gateway as a junior) met at the annual Arapahoe Tournament, where Smoky Hill won. As sophomores, the Buffaloes dropped Rampart at state. Last year as juniors, they survived a three-game thriller in the state semifinals to deal the Rams their only loss of the season. Rampart had previously beaten Smoky Hill twice last season, but the Buffaloes won (6-15, 15-2, 15-12) when it counted most.

Not surprisingly, the groups of players are strikingly similar.

Ashley Nu'u and Van Der Most are the opposing setters. Each fills the role of the always-composed floor general. Each uses her tremendous athletic ability to provide the unwavering service her talented hitters require.

In addition to athleticism, Amber Nu'u and Kellermann are able to dominate through their strength and balance. Smoky Hill coach Steve Huntingdale and Rampart coach Rick Kamm say the same things about their players. Amber Nu'u and Kellermann are conditioning nuts, and their stamina from the first play to the last play is consistent.

If you're looking for flair, for that kill that is so smooth yet so deadly it just yanks people out of their seats, check out Speed and Karlik.

"Her name says a lot, it really does," Huntingdale said of Speed. "It gets the kids excited."

At just 5-foot-7, Karlik's leaping ability makes her attack look like style personified, according to Kamm.

When it comes to defense, there are none better than Salyer and Ray, who both know the psychological value of a lightning dig. At 6-5, Salyer is dominating in the middle, but often overlooked is her ability to play defense on the back row - a position she'll play often next year at Penn State. Kamm says Ray is "the best passer and digger I've ever coached or seen." That ability has translated into two gold medals at the National Beach Doubles (ages 16 and 17) competition with her partner, Karlik.

Each team's foursome credits their success to a genuine friendship.

"We've just developed a relationship on and off the court," said Amber Nu'u, who along with her sister will attend the University of Colorado next year. "We really know how each of us think on the court and how we respond to certain situations."

Across the net, there's friendship and a healthy respect.

"They're not your enemy on the court. You know them, and you know them as people," Van Der Most said. "It makes them easier to play them because whoever wins or loses, you respect them."

The true measure this season will be hunger. The Rams think they have the edge after last year's semifinal defeat, while the Buffaloes believe their appetite for success is not appeased.