The varsity home volleyball match on October 24 against Lyons was the Gilpin Eagles’ twenty-third and final match of a long and fruitful season that began with a 3-0 victory over Kiowa on August 18. The girls would register a 12-11 record that included a 7-4 mark in league play. An outstanding showing for a team that lost several starting players from last year’s squad to graduation. They pulled together as a team. Improving each week, one of the key components to their success came from the girls’ unwavering support for one another. A tight-knit operation from top to bottom as you’ll ever see, the C Team, Junior Varsity, and Varsity all rooted for each other. Although they needed no coaxing, Head Coach Topher Rouse called it “a requirement.”

Gilpin would lose their match against the favored Lyons Lions that was stacked with hitters. Yet the Gilpin team showed tremendous effort and fortitude and made the third game exciting and closer than the first two. The entire season, there was never any “quit” in these girls.

Victory is always the ultimate goal, but this evening was more about honoring their seniors who were participating in their last high school volleyball game. A poignant moment for both players and parents, more than one tear was shed. Their little girls were all grown up now. What was left was a sense of accomplishment and memories that will last a lifetime.

Before the match began, in a touching ceremony dedicated to the volleyball team’s seniors, all six of them were presented with yellow and white roses as a token of our appreciation.

Those seniors are: Kailee Starkey, a starter all of this year and most of last year, a strong passer who found a home as an outside hitter. Sterling O’Sullivan, probably the fastest player on the squad, who covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Jordanna Gagnon, the most consistent server on the team, who was also the Speaking Captain (the only player allowed to talk to the referees) because of her knowledge of the rules, her levelheadedness, and her communication skills. Aaliyah Amaya-Beard, playing the middle position, bringing a positive attitude to practices and matches, and showing great improvement over her four years. Sophia Giuliano, who always had a smile on her face and was a reliable hitter who knew how to keep the ball in play. And Alexa Brandon, positioned at the middle and right side, an aggressive, gritty, and determined player.

Coach Rouse summarized after their final match, “The 2023 Gilpin County Varsity Volleyball season was in many ways very successful. For the second year in a row, the team finished with a winning record. There were some amazing wins over the course of the season including wins over West Grand and Highland when the girls dropped the first two sets but came back to win the match. The four-set win over Denver Christian was important because it was the first time for a volleyball victory over them. The entire program had a successful year as the Junior Varsity team finished 14-9 and the C Team finished 10-5. Even though we are losing six seniors, they contributed to building the volleyball program that we hope will continue to grow in the future.”