Fueled by Zoe Rollins’ courageous journey, Thompson Valley volleyball constructs title-winning season

All doubts and any skeptical curiosity surrounding Thompson Valley volleyball’s capacity vanished into thin air last Saturday when the Eagles defeated Cheyenne Mountain to secure the program’s first-ever state championship.

Still, one final question regarding TV remained. Who earned the right to cradle 4A’s coveted trophy first?

Perhaps senior Jordan Duzenack, whose 464 kills over the last three seasons led the squad offensively by a long shot, deserved said honor, Or maybe either of the squad’s three all-league freshmen phenoms in Tatum Sharp, Avery Gibbs and Ashlyn Tafoya –– who, together, pushed the Eagles over the edge from a good team to a great one in 2021.

Granted, considering TV’s exceptional depth, the list of worthy candidates unarguably continues from there while practically covering the roster’s entirety. However, settling the circumstance sprung no debate amongst the gold and black whatsoever.

Without hesitation, the precious plaque purposely found its way into Zoe Rollins’ lap as coach Lester Thorne’s team immediately huddled around the junior amid its court-storming celebration.

“She was just so important to us,” junior Allie Mertens described. “She kept us all going no matter what. We played for her this year.”

“I feel like with Zoe being there, it really shows that if you’re playing for something, you can do anything,” senior Emily Rollins added. “We really couldn’t have done it without her.”

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