This story is part of a collaboration between Colorado Preps and KKTV. The video package was shot and edited by KKTV sports director Jessica Mendoza
COLORADO SPRINGS – The boys volleyball season didn’t end the way that the Coronado Cougars were hoping.
But the big difference between 2025 and 2024 is that the team had a genuine chance to make it to the state tournament. And Gavin Mason was a big reason why.
The senior emerged, not just a top hitter in the area, but the entire state. Following the conclusion of regionals, where the Cougars beat Overland 3-1, but lost to Legacy 3-0 to fall short of state, Mason sat at third in the state at 4.2 kills per set.
It was certainly a stellar year for him. He finished with a career-high 221 kills, despite playing 10 fewer sets than in 2024, and finished with a career-low 66 hitting errors. He hit with power, and he was efficient all year.
But it was the turnaround that Coronado had that he’s prouder of. The Cougars went 20-5 this season after going 11-11 the year before. His stats were nice, but it was everyone experiencing the thrill of winning that he’ll remember the most.
“I like the team part of it,” he said. “I’m not too much of an individual person. I like to [come together] as one and build chemistry with people. Volleyball gave me a passion for a sport.”
The boys volleyball scene in Colorado is still very much in its infancy. This year is the just the fourth season of sanctioned play under the Colorado High School Activities Association banner. But even before it became an official high school sport, Mason was hooked.
“I started with this club called Summit, which is discontinued now,” Mason said. “But I started playing in eighth grade.”
He played for Coronado for all four years. As a sophomore, the Cougars advanced to regionals but lost to Douglas County in their chance to advance to state. It was around that time that his kill numbers started rising. He totaled 164 kills in that season, leading the team by 70.
All in all, it’s not bad for a kid who had been playing for a just a couple years and started his career in a defensive position.
“When I first started, I was playing back row and D/S,” Mason said. “That’s because I was just starting out. One of our outsides quit and my coach just stuck me in there and I’ve been playing it ever since.”
That meant increased responsibility and through the process having to mature as a player. He strikes the ball with a lot of power, but when he started playing a little smarter, the Cougars started winning more matches.
“Before, he was all about ‘I have to hit the ball and I have to put it away,’” coach Hannah Williams said. “Now he is such a team player. He’s cheering them on and helping me coach them during the game. I know I can rely on him.”
He hopes that his volleyball game continues to grow at the next level. He doesn’t have his college plans figured out just yet, but he wants to stay involved with the game beyond his high school years.
Until that pathway is figured out, he can look back at the 2025 season and be proud of what he and his Coronado teammates accomplished on the court. If the success they found this year carries over, it’s because players like Mason built a strong foundation.
