DENVER - Chaparral put up a valiant effort, but eventually Valor Christian would not be denied. 

During the Class 5A state volleyball championship match, the Wolverines won the first set 25-20 and the fourth set 25-22. But, the Eagles were never fazed as they were victorious in the second (25-19) and third (25-19) sets, as well as the winner-take-all fifth set (24-22). 

And so, Valor Christian has become a volleyball dynasty, earning four-consecutive state titles in Colorado’s largest classification. They also won 4A in 2018.

When asked how the Eagles were able to pull through during a dramatic fifth set, senior Bergen Waitman had a convincing answer. 

“We were able to completely trust in each other,” she said. “We were playing for a greater purpose than ourselves. We were playing for each other, for Jayne (McHugh), and we were playing for the Lord. Focusing on that is what carried us through.”

Valor was able to claim another championship, despite challenging circumstances as Chaparral was one point away from earning the title four different times in the final set. The mental fortitude they showed was something they carried with them throughout the season. After all, they had to play without their head coach since September.

“I came on, had one practice one day, and a game the next day,” interim coach Trisha Kroll said. “I got the call that Jayne was too sick to coach. From that point on, I just carried on the tradition.”

Jayne Gibson-McHugh - a Class of 1991 CHSAA Hall of Fame member - had built the powerhouse program, and Kroll knew she had to keep it going. 

Valor Christian went 86-1 the previous three seasons, but experienced more setbacks this year, losing three times, one of which was at the state tournament to Rock Canyon 3-2 on Friday. 

“We learned what not to do in that game,” Kroll said. “We underperformed. We didn’t play true to ourselves. We were so focused on them, we were giving them power.”

They had to turn the page to the next match and emerge victorious. Valor beat Pine Creek to stay alive, then took out No. 1-seeded Fossil Ridge, and finally Chaparral. 

“We just talked about not making it about them, but making it about us,” Kroll said. “We didn’t spend a lot of time talking about Fossil. We just talked about us and playing together and playing out of love and for each other, for joy and freedom over fear.”

They did just that as they earned a spot in the 5A final. Valor Christian beat Chaparral in the state tournament Thursday 3-0, but knew the Wolverines would have more bite in the title match. 

“All those girls are amazing,” Waitman, who has played club volleyball with four Chaparral players, said. “They are such an awesome team and they played their hearts out.”

The Wolverines jumped out early and won the first set 25-20, but the Eagles took the second and third sets. Then, the raucous Chaparral crowd spurred on a rally in the fourth set, which forced the thrilling final set.

“They have been all tournament, just hanging around and around and outlasting teams,” Kroll said about the state runner-up. “We just had to dig deep. We had to find a different gear.”

Valor Christian dug deep time and again as Chaparral was on the cusp of winning their first volleyball crown since 2019.

“I just wanted to hold back the waters of emotion for them that last set,” Kroll said. “I said, ‘let’s play for her (McHugh).’ They have these little number sevens on their shoes, because that was her Olympic jersey number.”

The title was finally sealed on a block by freshman Kora Fisher. Kroll credited several players for performing well Saturday night. 

“Bergen, number one, she is a rock for us,” the interim coach said. “She’s five-seven. She doesn’t have the off-the-bus look, but man she has always been a rock for this team. Jenna (Bell) stepped up big. Camble’s (Booth) big swings. Harper (Scott), number 10, Tegan (Beuhler) taking big swings, just amazing. It was all 13 of us.”

Waitman has seen this team grow tremendously. 

“From the beginning of the year until now, we can see such great differences,” she said. “At the beginning of the year we were timid, but we really had our younger people step up.”

Valor Christian graduated two first team all-state players from 2024 and still clinched another crown. In fact, the Eagles became the first team to win four straight volleyball championships in Colorado’s largest classification since Evergreen won eight in a row from 1978-85. 

“They all are so great,” Waitman said. “This one is a bittersweet one for sure. I feel grateful and I have every single year. It’s been such a blessing.”