Holyoke accepts the Colorado 2A state volleyball runner-up trophy Saturday, Nov. 13. Team members are pictured from left, front row, Tamara Penzing, Sabryn Burris, Kristin Vieselmeyer, Audrey Talavera, Elyce Talavera, coach Irene Ortega, Clover Adler and Tayla Martin; and back row, coach Michelle Vieselmeyer, Jordyn Schluntz, coach Ashley Hoffner, Kyleigh Jaeger, Adison Goldenstein, Erin Andersen, Elise Krogmeier and Aspyn Kinnie. — Photo by Jessica Cumming
The Lady Dragons celebrate their semifinal victory over Wiggins, pictured clockwise from left, Erin Andersen, Kyleigh Jaeger, Sabryn Burris, statistician Jordyn Schluntz, assistant coach Ashley Hoffner, Kristin Vieselmeyer, Adison Goldenstein, Tayla Martin and Clover Adler. — Photo by Jessica Cumming
Holyoke claims runner-up title
The Lady Dragon volleyball team made history when it earned the state runner-up title at the Colorado 2A championship Saturday, Nov. 13, in Colorado Springs.
This is the third time a Holyoke team has made a state appearance — the first in 2000 and the second in the 2021 spring season — and the only time the Lady Dragons have come home with hardware in hand.
In the spring tournament which was bumped from the fall due to COVID-19, the team was eliminated after the first round thanks to a shortened pandemic-era bracket. Let’s just say Holyoke got its money’s worth at the fall 2021 state tournament.
Holyoke played six matches, including 23 sets, over three days of intense volleyball action on a five-court setup at the Broadmoor World Arena.
No. 5 Holyoke scored two big wins over No. 12 Akron and No. 4 Soroco, both in three sets, to kick off the tournament Thursday, Nov. 11.
A five-set loss to No. 1 Sedgwick County on Friday, Nov. 12, sent the Lady Dragons to the elimination side of the bracket.
Holyoke kept their season alive Saturday morning with a five-set win over No. 7 Rye, earning them the right to play in the semifinals Saturday afternoon. They quickly beat No. 6 Wiggins in three sets, punching their ticket to the state championship that evening.
It was a rematch of Friday’s game when Holyoke faced off with Sedgwick County for the state title. The Lady Dragons put up a fight and took the Cougars to four sets, but ultimately Holyoke finished the tournament with runner-up honors.
“I’m super proud of the girls,” said coach Michelle Vieselmeyer. “I couldn’t have asked for any more.”
The Lady Dragons accomplished their season goal of competing in the state championship. “This is everything they’ve been working on all season,” said Vieselmeyer.
With three matches on the final day of the tournament and a rematch with Sedgwick County, the coach said the team was up for the challenge. In the semifinal against Wiggins — “Man, they came out on fire! Nothing shook them,” said Vieselmeyer, noting she wishes they could have played that same way in the championship.
There was a flood of emotions at the trophy presentation and in the hours that followed. For the seniors, it was their last volleyball match as Lady Dragons, and “they left it all out on the court,” said Vieselmeyer in appreciation for their fierce determination all the way to the end.
It was nice to have something to bring back, she said, and the team presented the runner-up trophy to the JR/SR high school, family and friends at a pep rally Tuesday morning, Nov. 16.
“You made history in Holyoke. You should be proud of your efforts,” said Vieselmeyer.
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