In high school sports, the inevitable change in programs that happens from year to year can lead to incredible growth for the players left behind. It can also lead to fresh excitement that the new faces bring along with them.

No team learned that lesson better than Thompson Valley, which lost a key piece after 2021's Season D and had to find ways to fill in that vacancy. The Eagles, of course, bounced back in fashion as they hoisted the Class 4A state championship trophy at the end of last fall.

“At the beginning of the season, we had no idea where we were going to be at because the year before that, our setter was a senior, so we really had no idea where that was going to take us,” senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Rebecca Wiersema said. “We had some very talented freshmen come in and the way that they bonded with us and we all got along, honestly, I think a lot of the reason why we won state was just the way that we truly came together like a family.”

A few early losses — including a rough, four-game stretch midway through the season — taught them to persevere even when their backs were against the wall. That lesson played out even during their bid for 4A state glory, as they had to force their way through the consolation bracket following a third-round loss to Palmer Ridge.

Their tough, regular-season competition within the Longs Peak League only added to their grit when the Eagles needed to find ways to soar. The LPL comprised a third of all of the 4A teams that made the state tournament, from Thompson Valley and Niwot to Frederick and Berthoud.

“Being able to play with a lot of teams where we had four or five teams that we saw at state that we play in-season, it’s really cool and it creates a lot of competitiveness that it just makes all of our teams so much better and it just makes our level of play increase so much over the season,” Wiersema said. “It makes postseason just so much better.”

The Eagles will no doubt threaten to claim their 4A throne again this year, as all but four players from a roster of 18 return to the court. Sophomore middle blocker Tatum Sharp led the program with 253 kills as a freshman as another sophomore, outside hitter and middle blocker Avery Gibbs, contributed another 215. Sharp and Gibbs also took on much of the front-line defensive responsibility with 104 and 67 blocks, respectively. 

Senior Allie Mertens will take care of much of the back row’s defense after collecting 305 digs last fall and sophomore setter Ashlyn Tafoya will take the brunt of aiding her offense, after contributing an eye-popping 961 assists during her debut season.

The Eagles began their 2023 campaign with a win over preseason No. 5 Windsor on Tuesday night and will take the court next at Loveland on Thursday night.