All dynasties end sometime, and for this season, the new Class 3A volleyball power from Colorado Springs should be The Classical Academy.

In the Titans' initial state tournament appearance last season, they nearly went the distance, losing to Valley in the semifinals. The progress of the program in one season was stunning.

"Last year, we qualified for districts for the first time ever," Titans coach Lori Alejo said. "Then we qualified for regionals and state for the first time also. It was such a whirlwind."

The 3A state championship was won by Colorado Springs Christian, which made it three consecutive titles. The Lions, the closest thing to a recent state volleyball dynasty, sent four of their top players to college programs and are not favored to repeat.

The Classical Academy, a charter school known as TCA, returns all but three players from that semifinalist squad.

The Titans are led by senior Lydia Blaha, who will play next year at Boise State.

"She's our best blocker, very, very quick at the net," Alejo said. "She's got a great vertical, so she gets up there and is able to adjust. She's also becoming one of our best hitters. As she's played club, her offense has really improved."

Blaha said she got an inkling of TCA's potential late last summer.

"From the beginning (of practice), we noticed that we're better than we've ever been, we're stronger," Blaha said. "The most exciting thing was when we beat Manitou (Springs). We had never beaten them before, and the second time, it went to five games."

For Alejo, one highlight was beating Basalt at state, after trailing 2-0.

"Every time we played an opponent, we played them with the same mentality: never worrying what they were doing, but just focusing on us," Alejo said.

"We never gave up, and our defense really improved a ton."

Colorado Springs Christian, Manitou Springs and St. Mary's have been the dominant 3A teams in the Pikes Peak region for years, but Blaha thinks several ingredients came together for a successful season at TCA.

"I think everybody sort of started to play club, and that just helped us to come back strong from the start of the season," Blaha said.

"Plus, everybody got along. That was huge. I've been on teams with a lot of talent, but we didn't win much. If you have people you really don't get along with, it will tear a whole team apart."

Alejo does have some holes to fill after a setter and outside hitter graduated. But for the setting position, Blaha is highly optimistic because the coach's daughter, Lauren, is moving over from defensive specialist.

"One of the biggest things is that she's so incredibly fast and has great hands," Blaha said of Lauren Alejo. "We also have some

really great hitters who are coming up, so it's definitely our goal (to win state)."

That will not be easy.

Valley returns its entire team, except for all-state setter Devin Eckhardt, who is playing for Regis University. So the Vikings are ranked No. 1.

Other tough teams from around the state include Basalt, Faith Christian, Holy Family and Roosevelt.

NOTEBOOK

• When asked about most- improved teams, Roosevelt has been getting the best buzz from coaches.

The Roughriders are from the Patriot League, which has been the state's best for several years.

They have six starters back. The coach is Geneva Morford, known for her success at Longmont, and her top player is her daughter.

Alex Morford is a junior setter who also was the team leader in kills. She was selected as the most valuable player at the Karch Kiraly Academy this summer.

The Roughriders also will be helped by two sophomores, setter Megan Velasquez and middle blocker Sendy Valles. Those three players range from 5-feet-9 to 5-11, so height is another plus for a team that finished 14-10 last year.

• Valley really had only two key losses last season.

The first was in the championship final, to Colorado Springs Christian, which won its third straight title. The second was the departure of setter Devin Eckhardt to graduation. The first-team all-state player now is with Regis University.

To fill the setting position, Valley coach Rene Aafedt likely will switch to a 6-2 offense. Sage Martinson, who grew 2 inches since last season, is going to split time between setter and right-side hitter.

Another sophomore, Savannah Garcia, also will play setter. Garcia is 5-1, but Aafedt said she can jump out of the gym.

The Vikings have a third candidate for setter, Shanae Gonzales, who is returning to Valley from University High School in Greeley. Gonzales is more Garcia-sized at 5-3, but Aafedt said she plays awesome defense.

• The coaching carousel made a full revolution in 3A this year. Longtime Strasburg coach Larry Deffenbaugh has resigned, taking an upper-level administrative job in the district.

But Weld Central brought back coach Tia Self, who lifted the Rebels to prominence in three memorable seasons at the school.

Self, the 1996 All-Colorado player of the year for Brighton, was hired a few weeks ago and said the players are showing the effects of such a late start.

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