After a loss in straight sets to Valor Christian’s Girls’ Volleyball Team, Grandview had no room left for error if they had any hopes for a state title. In a double-elimination style bracket, Grandview bounced back with a victory over Chaparral 3-1 and headed into a Semi-Finals matchup versus Rock Canyon. 

Captain Haley Glunz and her squad fought to the last point, but it wasn’t enough as Grandview’s luck finally ran out with them losing in four sets, 3-1. 

Although the season didn’t end the way the team hoped, there was still a lot to be proud of according to Senior Captain Haley Glunz. 

“I think the season was extremely successful,” Glunz said. “ We made it to the Semi-Finals. We got third place, and considering there are over 50 teams in 5A, just to be third is an amazing accomplishment.”

And what a feat it was. Grandview’s Volleyball Team finished off the year 22-8, just a few wins short of last year’s record of 24-5. 

The season was full of ups and downs, but through it all, one thing was for certain. This team had each other’s backs. 

 “I think individually we each grew as athletes and I think we got closer with each other,” senior Gabby Placide said.  “As a team, we could have played better but I think we have grown a lot together. And we came back from a lot of hard losses. And I think we proved ourselves in a way too.”

The team’s main source of motivation was redemption. In the 2020 State Title, Grandview lost to Rampart. In 2021, Grandview lost to Cherry Creek in the big game. This season, even with a loss to Creek earlier on in the season, in the final match of the Centennial League Challenge, Grandview shut the door on Cherry Creek, beating them in straight sets.

As for Rampart they suffered a similar fate, being knocked out in the second round of Playoffs by an energized Grandview team. 

“My favorite part of the season was either beating Creek or Rampart,” senior player Abbey Hemp said.

 Placide shared similar feelings, as her favorite moment from the season was the team beating Rampart High School at the state tournament.

With the loss to Rock Canyon, it officially put an end to the graduating seniors’ seasons. One filled with a lot of what-ifs.  

“After the loss, I was kinda just questioning,” Glunz said. “After you lose you always look at all the what if’s, like what if I did this but honestly it was just sad knowing this was my last time playing with these girls.”

Glunz wasn’t the only senior struck with sadness after the loss. 

“I was just really angry and sad that we lost and sad that we didn’t make it to the finals like we did for the past two years,” Placide said. 

Hemp’s reflection upon the year speaks to the general tone of graduating seniors as well as the underclassmen on the team after the upsetting loss. 

“I think our season was successful because we grew a lot as a team. And we proved a lot of people wrong,” Hemp said.

Looking forward to next season, Grandview will be led by familiar faces with the likes of Brenna Kelly and Emerson Deferme returning as seniors next season.

Kelly, a veteran in the game of volleyball,  recalled how this was, “probably one of my favorite seasons.” 

She will be taking a lesson away from this past season, which she will carry into her upcoming senior year. 

“You can always improve and no matter what, don’t give up.”