Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 | 10:29 a.m.
Coach Bob Kelly's Durango Trailblazers have lost just one match this year, but if you ask him, the toughest challenge for his team is still ahead.
"I think Galena is a really good team. If they were in our league, they'd be contending with us," Kelly said of Durango's opening round foe in this weekend's 4A State Volleyball Tournament at Coronado High School.
"Galena went through the league up there easily and went through their tournament, and the scores were lopsided. I think it's going to be a really good matchup."
Ranked 20th in the country by prepvolleyball.com, Durango rolled through the Sunset Region tournament without losing a game. But up north, Galena also swept through the Northern regional.
Leading Durango is the Blazers' senior power tandem of setter Amy Schlauder and outside hitter Kelsey Johnson. Both seniors signed national letters of intent Wednesday, with Schlauder signing with Brigham Young and Johnson committing to Boston College.
Galena is a well-balanced team, much like Durango. Setter Kate Wallace, who had 30 assists in the North championship match against Douglas High School, leads the Grizzlies.
But Kelly thinks his team's focus and drive have only gotten better since losing to 10th-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in September.
"That was the last time we played high-level teams," Kelly said. "Throughout the year, I don't think our team ever regressed. I think our team always worked to get better, and I always demanded that in practice and in our matches."
"We kind of knew what the outcome was going to be. We never took a match lightly. We felt that every time we played, it's going to come back as to how we're going to play at the state tournament, and they took that real seriously."
But where Durango has dominated, Sunrise Region champion Coronado has battled. Led by middle blocker Jenna Newman, the Cougars host the state playoffs on the court where they made two miracle comebacks to win the region tournament.
"I don't think that it affected them negatively," Coronado coach Jay Renneker said of the tough competition the Cougars faced in the Sunrise tournament. "Green Valley and Silverado played some of the best volleyball they did all year."
"What that did for all girls was teach them they can overcome any deficit. First time it happened, we thought 'Aw, that doesn't happened very often.' And it happened twice. It taught them if they played together, they can take state."
Coronado opens with Bishop Gorman, which finished 8-2 in the Southwest Division and beat Green Valley in the play-in game to make it to the state tournament. But Renneker says his team is looking forward to the challenge that a final matchup with Durango poses.
"First, we have to beat Gorman. But if we do get an opportunity to play Durango again, I think they've got some things to prove and I know Durango wants to win it all," Renneker said.
"I think Gorman will be a tough match right off the bat. I don't expect Galena to play Durango lightly and I don't expect Gorman to play us lightly. I think both teams will play hard to win. It'll make for a good final. We're excited if we can get there."
Renneker hopes that the tough competition in the Sunrise Region will give his girls an edge against the more dominant teams that didn't face the trials that Coronado did.
"The Southeast is the toughest (division) in town," Renneker said. "Foothill, Basic, Silverado, Green Valley all could have beaten just about anybody. Playing against those guys all year, it's an advantage. Every game is more of a championship atmosphere. Some of the west side games haven't been quite as competitive."
Kelly's Blazers won't be changing their routine to try and prepare for the unknown Galena, gritty Cougars, or familiar Gaels.
"I think what we do is fine," Kelly said. "I didn't change anything, didn't add anything. We'll just do what we've been working on all year. I think that's enough to do it. I think we're pretty varied to begin with."
Semifinal matches begin Friday at 6:45 p.m. The title game is Saturday at 2 p.m.
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