Courtney Johnson
Highlands Ranch volleyball is in a spike this season.
The Highlands Ranch Falcons were 8-2 overall as of Sept. 22
after a 2-3 loss to Ponderosa, following a loss to Regis in
tournament action. Every win for the Falcons this season has seen
them defeat their opponents 3-0.
In Continental League play, the team is 1-1 after the loss to
the Mustangs, with a win against Douglas County. They key to their
success has been having the same rotation of players from last
year.
“We have had another year of club and the experience to play at
our best together,” sophomore Breanna Wong said.
“We have a real advantage,” senior Erica Winkler said. “Our
starters are the same as last year and that has given us an
edge.”
Junior Kayla McFadden leads the team in scoring points and is
tops on the team and the league in serving aces.
Senior Leylin Marroquin leads the team and is one of the best in
the league in digs. Winkler and Wong carry the team in kills with
more than 110 each.
“Our hitting has been a strength this season,” Winkler said. “We
have many good hitters on the team.”
Despite their 8-2 start to the season, the team feels they can
improve in some areas and look forward to the tough league play
coming the rest of the season.
“The girls need to focus on more ball control and consistency of
focus,” coach Lou Krauss said.
Wong said the team needs to work on its passing as well. The
Continental League is deep this year, so taking the league is going
to be tough. Winkler said in general, the entire league is highly
competitive.
“There is Vista, Chap, ThunderRidge. The whole league is really
strong this season,” Krauss said.
Looking forward, the Falcons hope to continue playing strong
together and have a good run at state.
"We are definitely state potential,” Winkler said. “We just need
to focus.”
Between a tough Continental League and other Class 5A teams
around the state, the state title is fair game. Winkler said the
top bragging rights belong to any team this season.
“Everyone is kicking everyone else off as state potentials,”
Krauss said.
