Gaels fall to Trailblazers in heated semi matchup

Richard Brian

Bishop Gorman’s Dannielle Diamant (15) hits a ball over the net against Durango during the Sunset Regional volleyball tournament at Centennial High on Friday.

By Brent Hinckley

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 | 12:11 a.m.

Regional Volleyball Tournament

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No. 1 seed Bishop Gorman had already beaten No. 2 seed Durango three times during the girls' volleyball regular season. A fourth win Friday would have given the Gaels the Sunset Regional title and a berth in the state championship.

Unfortunately for the Gaels, Durango was able to edge them in five to pull the upset, 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 25-16, 20-25, 15-4) in the regional final at Centennial, giving them back-to-back regional titles.

"It's tough to beat anyone four times, but we knew what to expect," Gorman coach Ed Van Meetren said. "We have three seniors who have been here since finishing as (region) runners-up four years ago. We felt this was one of our best chances to get it done."

Durango coach Kelly O'Quinn said she felt her young team was overmatched against the Gaels in the Sunset Regional championship.

"I thought Gorman was going to take care of us. They have throughout the year. I was just hoping we could keep it close," O'Quinn said.

The Gaels dropped the first game 25-18 to Durango, but won the next two games 25-21 and 25-16 to get the match, 2-1.

Durango trailed early in the fourth game at 9-7, then Stanford-bound senior Hayley Spelman, the Trailblazers' opposite hitter, put the team on her shoulders.

The Southwest Division MVP had 40 kills and pushed the Trailblazers to a 25-20 win in the fourth game and 15-4 win in the fifth. She scored 12 of the team's points in the fifth game.

"We shut down mentally in the fourth game and stopped playing," Van Meetren said. "Hayley stepped up and kept putting the ball away."

Durango will face whichever team loses Saturday's Northern Regional final matchup in Reno between Bishop Manogue and Reno High.

"It's been a long year of training beginning players. I never thought we would be going to state. This is icing on the cake," O'Quinn said.

Senior Dannielle Diamant led the Gaels with 19 kills and five blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Kylie Shaw added 11 kills and a block.

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-7822 or brent.hinckley@hbcpub.com.