Durango claims Sunset title, gives coaches one more trip to state
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By DAVID SCHOEN
REVIEW-JOURNAL
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Posted: Nov. 7, 2008 | 3:28 p.m.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2008 | 12:13 a.m.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2008 | 12:13 a.m.
It’s probably a stretch to call the Durango girls volleyball team a Cinderella. But the Trailblazers have at least become the feel-good story of the playoffs thus far.
Senior standout Hayley Spelman finished with 40 kills and the Trailblazers ensured outgoing coaches Kelly O’Quinn and Bob Kelly one more trip to the state tournament as they knocked off Bishop Gorman 25-18, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-4 in the Sunset Region championship Friday at Centennial.
Durango (25-11), the defending state runner-up and No. 2 seed from the Southeast, will meet the loser of the Bishop Manogue-Reno match in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Damonte Ranch.
“What a place to end it, at state,” O’Quinn said. “I guess I can’t say we’re not good anymore.”
O’Quinn and Kelly, who started at Durango when the school opened in 1993 and announced they will step down after the boys volleyball season in the spring, were honored in an emotional ceremony before the match. It appeared their careers would end when Southeast No. 1 Gorman (28-8) won the second and third games, but that’s when Spelman, a Stanford recruit, took over.
“After the third game, I thought that was it,” said O’Quinn, whose team lost all three meetings with the Gaels this season. “Hayley was determined to take her team with her and win this.”
After Durango used a 9-2 spurt midway through the fourth game to tie the match, Spelman had 10 kills and two aces in the fifth.
Gorman found itself in a tough rotation with 6-foot-4-inch middle blocker Dannielle Diamant on the bench and Spelman took advantage with three kills on the next four points to put the Southeast No. 2 Trailblazers up 8-4.
Spelman then served up an ace to make it 9-4 and powered another kill off a triple block from the Gaels.
“In the fourth game we just shut down mentally, I thought, and stopped playing,” Gorman coach Ed Van Meetren said. “We knew what to expect from her. She stepped up and we just didn’t execute.”
Another ace from Spelman, who had the final 11 service points, made it 12-4. After a hitting error from the Gaels, Spelman notched two straight kills, including a cross-court blast on the final point.
“If this was (O’Quinn and Kelly’s) last match I didn’t want to have any regrets, and I know all the girls felt the same way,” Spelman said. “I couldn’t have done anything without my teammates. They picked up tips. They stayed on top of it. The team played incredibly awesome.”
Durango rode its emotion to a Game 1 win only to see the Gaels rally behind Diamant, who finished with 19 kills. She had five kills as part of an 8-1 run in the second game and her kill put Gorman on top 11-5 in Game 3. Gorman’s lead grew to as big as 20-12 before the Gaels scored the final four points to take the game.
“I thought this was a great chance for us to win (the region title) this year,” Van Meetren said. “It’s tough to beat anybody four times.”
Senior standout Hayley Spelman finished with 40 kills and the Trailblazers ensured outgoing coaches Kelly O’Quinn and Bob Kelly one more trip to the state tournament as they knocked off Bishop Gorman 25-18, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-4 in the Sunset Region championship Friday at Centennial.
Durango (25-11), the defending state runner-up and No. 2 seed from the Southeast, will meet the loser of the Bishop Manogue-Reno match in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Damonte Ranch.
“What a place to end it, at state,” O’Quinn said. “I guess I can’t say we’re not good anymore.”
O’Quinn and Kelly, who started at Durango when the school opened in 1993 and announced they will step down after the boys volleyball season in the spring, were honored in an emotional ceremony before the match. It appeared their careers would end when Southeast No. 1 Gorman (28-8) won the second and third games, but that’s when Spelman, a Stanford recruit, took over.
“After the third game, I thought that was it,” said O’Quinn, whose team lost all three meetings with the Gaels this season. “Hayley was determined to take her team with her and win this.”
After Durango used a 9-2 spurt midway through the fourth game to tie the match, Spelman had 10 kills and two aces in the fifth.
Gorman found itself in a tough rotation with 6-foot-4-inch middle blocker Dannielle Diamant on the bench and Spelman took advantage with three kills on the next four points to put the Southeast No. 2 Trailblazers up 8-4.
Spelman then served up an ace to make it 9-4 and powered another kill off a triple block from the Gaels.
“In the fourth game we just shut down mentally, I thought, and stopped playing,” Gorman coach Ed Van Meetren said. “We knew what to expect from her. She stepped up and we just didn’t execute.”
Another ace from Spelman, who had the final 11 service points, made it 12-4. After a hitting error from the Gaels, Spelman notched two straight kills, including a cross-court blast on the final point.
“If this was (O’Quinn and Kelly’s) last match I didn’t want to have any regrets, and I know all the girls felt the same way,” Spelman said. “I couldn’t have done anything without my teammates. They picked up tips. They stayed on top of it. The team played incredibly awesome.”
Durango rode its emotion to a Game 1 win only to see the Gaels rally behind Diamant, who finished with 19 kills. She had five kills as part of an 8-1 run in the second game and her kill put Gorman on top 11-5 in Game 3. Gorman’s lead grew to as big as 20-12 before the Gaels scored the final four points to take the game.
“I thought this was a great chance for us to win (the region title) this year,” Van Meetren said. “It’s tough to beat anybody four times.”
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a dad wrote on November 16, 2008 06:17 PM:
I would like to apologize for my previous posting. I've just realized that I'm a self absorbed parent and upset that my daughter didn't get as much action on the court as I would have liked. I now realize that the Durango coaches took a average team (at best) to the state tournament. I was just upset that I couldn't talk to the coaches and tell them how much of an all-star my daughter is and that their thirty years and nine hundred wins of experience doesn't mean anything when it comes to my little all-star. I now realize that I'm going to miss these coaches next year because my little all-star won't reach her full potential, but she will have so much fun because she gets to have more action on a bad team. I would also like to apologize for writing an anonymous bit on the internet where I could hide from confrontation and say rotten things and giggle like a little girl, instead of being a man. Thank goodness for my conscience and that I could use the internet again to express my feelings.
a dad wrote on November 15, 2008 02:20 PM: I agree with the mom while the rest have your own interest (Kelly son, spelman)... It's true the whole girls sports program at Durango is a one dimensional program. Lindy LaRoque, Markie Malone, Mia Bell, Haley Spelman are the only recruits to make it out of Durango over the last year. Should be more, as there is more talent within the program.Mom is only asking where is the money from the classic going? Heck I wanna know too. Because Durango should have one at least one state title in those areas, esp with standford bound athlete's, this past year. But didn't. WHY? Durango philosophers put no money in the programs heck, we should send our kids to Gorman, who pays, since it costs so much to fund a club player off season. This weekend I watched the semi finals at state (Reno) to see that the one dimensional system couldn't work against a team like Reno who moves the ball quicker. That's because they don't use the same player twice in a set up, alike Durango. That's smart coaching? Well since parents aren't allowed to confront Durango coaches, Im with you MOM, because I am another mom, but a dad, that feels same way. Thank goodness for internet, as we can speak the truth about Durango philosophy..whatever happen to the "Z" in teamzzz?!!! hah wrote on November 11, 2008 07:36 PM: HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA. idc. hahhahahhaa. volleychick wrote on November 11, 2008 06:30 PM: I'll bet Durango, Silverado and Gorman are happy that you are a "GV" fan and not backing them! Let's see if you can figure this out. Go and get "your" purse. "You're" and idiot! Which one applies to you? You just had an English lesson. Hope you were paying attention! hah wrote on November 11, 2008 05:46 PM: haha ohh okayyyyy. idc about my spellings hahah. im not old like any of you guys :) okay bye vball mom wrote on November 11, 2008 01:56 PM: This is to “ha”. Before you question anyone’s literacy and call anyone an idiot, you should read your comments word for word. You have so many misspelled words, run on sentences, improper grammar/punctuation and incorrect word usage (your instead of your’re, theyre instead of their). Because of your ignorance and stupidity, you have no credibility. So shut up and get a life, but more importantly, go to school! hah wrote on November 10, 2008 10:40 PM: i never said applegate was playing back row. it was just an example if your literate you would understand... why was that being selfish ? her mom pays for her to play club and yes she has the choice to quit. so if she didnt join AT ALL, that is still selfish ? hayley is an amazing player ive seen her play. but my point iss she is the only one that can HIT. their setter seem very clumsy and thats just an opinion. durango was good last yearrrr. thats true. but gv beat them 3-2 last game and that was an amazing game. i never said hayley sucked. the team sucks wihtout hayley. so everyone shut upp. whatever durango is going to state. lets just see what happens. doubt if theyll advance. erin hill is probably the best coach in nevada. it really doesnt matter how many titles youve won. durango has a lot of titles. but hill is a coach that would push you to become the best you can be. i know that the durango coach and hill are top notch when it comes to this sport. but really all i could say is durango sucks this year and its true. they are not that good compared to last year and hayley is a top notch player but puttin gher with beginners doesnt really make the team stand out. it makes her stand out as an individual. so whatever. stop saying applegate is not amazing. so what if she hits the ball out of bounds. have you seen hayleys jump seve hit the backboard ? it was out of control and people were laughing. its okay to make mistakes. so whatever i guess. and i dont think i said something not true. and i could back up everything i said. Daniel Kelly wrote on November 10, 2008 08:48 PM: First off, I am the younger son of Bob Kelly and Kelly O'quinn. If anyone can attest to the knowledge and the depth that these two volleyball coaches have, it is me. I grew up in gym and I've seen championships won on several occasions. From club volleyball festivals to state championships I was there. I've seen olympians, division one, and ordinary high school players pass through over the years. Anyone who wants to challenge the knowledge or decision making of Bob and Kelly needs think of how much they really know about volleyball before they let their emotions reveal their inadequacies. Name one volleyball coach who holds more state championships (remember he one 5 at Clark high school before Durango) and who has produced more division one volleyball players through club and high school volleyball. I know my father better than any of you clowns and if any of you had the slightest clue as to the dedication and great things he has done for high school volleyball, you would swallow your pride and realize that you were probably 10 years old when this man paved the way for your sons and daughters to play this game at a competitive level here in Las Vegas. For the "mom." You are so typical it makes me sick. First, you need to get a clue, check your ego at the door, then realize that if Durango loses in state it is because of inexperience and not because a division one bound athlete gets the most touches during the game. You are probably the most detrimental part in your daughters development. My suggestion would be to keep your mouth shut and sit on you fingers, so you won't embarrass yourself like this again. Thank you for your time. be-bop wrote on November 10, 2008 03:46 PM: Oh, hah, you are so dumb. Poor thing. OK, let's ask you what you would do if you were the Durango coach. You have a setter who plays club, I think, and an amazing player, one who you really seem jealous of. What do you do? Do you keep the ball away from her and let the other players who are beginning players hit the ball? Do you watch warm ups, ever? You can tell just by watching warm ups that they are far, far behind. Do you understand the game of volleyball at all? It didn't take just Spelman to win. It took all of the players to win. Someone had to pass, someone had to dig and like the stupid "mom" said, yes, someone had to cover, which are all very important components of a team. Durango just played better at the end. If the other teams were so good, then should have been able to stop Spelman, shouldn't they have? And, they have more better players than Durango does. So again, good job Durango. Way to beat every team with only "one" player! And shame on you for wishing any one gets hurt. What goes around, comes around............and if Applegate is so amazing, why did she hit the last ball out of bounds to end the match? And why was she so selfish to quit a team, club team, because she was asked to play another position, and no, it wasn't back row. So no, Applegate is not amazing! hah wrote on November 10, 2008 03:39 PM: one more thing. the durango setter sucks. Read More Comments |
