D’Evelyn dominates regional, headed to its first boys volleyball state tournament

DENVER — D’Evelyn’s boys volleyball team dominated the Class 4A Region 2 tournament Saturday.

The Jaguars swept to 3-0 victories over DSST: Conservatory Green and KIPP Denver Collegiate to punch D’Evelyn’s ticket to the 8-team 4A state tournament next week.

“It’s awesome,” D’Evelyn senior Elijah Osborne said. “We’ve been working for this for four years. Most of the players on the team have been with the program for at least three years. The blood and sweat we’ve put in has all led up to this. It feels awesome.”

It’s the fifth year that boys volleyball has been a CHSAA-sanctioned sport. It is the first year that there will be a 5A and 4A tournament. It will be the first trip to the state tournament for the Jaguars, which began their varsity program in 2021 when it had a 1-12 record.

“This is amazing. I remember two years ago we were just like a new program,” said D’Evelyn’s setter Tarin Cavanaugh, who has played varsity for three years. “We went to regionals at Bear Creek and had a really tight match. I loved those seniors. It is great to fulfill their wishes and go to state for them.”

D’Evelyn (22-3 record) is a on a 7-game winning streak heading to the double-elimination state tournament that begins Thursday, May 8, at the Trojan Arena at the Fountain-Fort Carson campus. The 3-day state tournament will conclude Saturday, May 10.

The No. 2-seed Jaguars will open against No. 7 Stargate School (17-5).

“We’ve got some hard competition,” Osborne said looking head to the state tournament. “I think Stargate is much better than they are ranked, but I have faith in my team. We have great chemistry.”

D’Evelyn and Stargate actually faced each other in the Jaguars’ season opener on March 4. D’Evelyn took a 3-1 victory.

All three of D’Evelyn’s loss this season came against 5A competition — Littleton, Castle View and Douglas County. Littleton is actually the No. 1 seed in the 5A state tournament.

“When we face adversity at state I believe we can figure it out and overcome it,” Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh has overcome wearing the colors and logo of his rival school over the past four years. The senior co-captain is actually a senior at rival Green Mountain High School.

“It is a little hard,” Cavanaugh said of wearing the D’Evelyn jersey. “But honestly, I just love volleyball. It’s a fun game. I just love these kids too. I grew up with Elijah and Isaac (Osborne brothers), they live just across the street. I love the community and everything.”

There was a good contingent of Green Mountain students who sat behind the Jaguars’ bench to help cheer D’Evelyn onto the straight set 25-6, 25-13 and 25-20 victory over KIPP Denver Collegiate in the final match of the regional tournament.

“I just try to get everyone out there, especially my friends” Cavanaugh said.

D’Evelyn will bring a fairly senior-laded squad to state. The Osborne brothers have combined for more than 300 kills on the season. Senior Jaziel Lagarda is third on the team in kills.

“We’ve got to keep the tempo up,” Cavanaugh said of a key to have a good showing at the state tournament. “We just have to play our game. I know we can win.”