Bengals eye last chance

Leah Robinson

Thursday, April 19, 2001 | 10:21 a.m.

The wall high above Bonanza High School's gym floor boasts several state title banners, but one in particular is missing -- boys volleyball.

"I keep telling the guys there's a space right up there next to mine," said coach Kip Sweikert, referring to her stint as a member of the Bengals' 1987 state champion girls volleyball team. "If they want it bad enough, I think they could do it."

Bonanza is among a handful of teams that have the ability to take this year's top prize. Others include Chaparral, tops in town with a 13-1 record, and Durango, winner of last year's inaugural 4A state championship.

The Trailblazers and Bengals, both 3-0 in the Southwest Division, face off tonight at 5 at Durango.

"We're ready, no question," Bonanza's Chris Braman said. "This will be a real test for us."

Braman is one of six solid senior players on a team that admittedly has no star. All six began playing together as freshmen, suffering only one loss during that season. Since then, they have had success at the junior varsity level and on last year's varsity squad, which went 12-6 and earned a spot in the Sunset Region Tournament.

Now, they hope to parlay years of competitive team-building into a winning formula for their final playoff run.

"We know this is it for us. If we ended it in a slump going into state, that would be tough," said Kevin Hawkins, one of the graduating seniors.

Bengals' setter Zach Taylor, also a senior, said he also feels the pressure to win, particularly since his role is so crucial. "If I don't set it up good, they won't make the kills and we don't get points," he said.

Brett Call, another senior, said Taylor effectively plays the role of "quarterback" for the group.

"He's a heck of a setter. I don't do nearly as well when he's not setting it up for me," Call said. "We all pretty much anticipate each other's moves."

But Sweikert cautions her players not to let their longtime familiarity be their undoing.

"I'm constantly telling them to be confident, not cocky. We have to focus on one game at a time, not just the big picture," Sweikert said.

Still, when those six seniors, who also include Mike Esposito and Eric Rice, have their game on, Sweikert says they are a pleasure to watch and a joy to coach.

Next year will be different, however, with the loss of so many experienced players. But Sweikert says she isn't worried, pointing out Bonanza's freshman team is undefeated and the junior varsity squad has suffered only two losses this season.

For now, though, both Sweikert and assistant Bob Bertolani are focused on their current campaign, and both believe the Bengals have a shot to go all the way in 2001.

"They can go as far as they want as long as they work together," Bertolani said. "Whoever shows up with the most heart and the most desire will win this thing."