Valor Christian flies to 5A girls volleyball state title 3-peat

DENVER – When looking at the stats heading into the 2024 season, Valor Christian volleyball head coach Jayne McHugh quickly noticed one thing. As she put it, “We graduated about 10 kills a set.”

But the best part of this year’s Eagles volleyball team, other than securing their third consecutive title Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum, was that they just filled in that graduation gap no questions asked. Big-time kills, many of which sent balls into the stands after hitting Legend players or the floor, were key in the 25-23, 25-17, 25-20 victory.

And while offense took center stage with the big swings of Kenzey McGatlin and Bergen Waitman, facilitated by four-year varsity starting setter Chloe Elarton, it was defense that solidified the season for McHugh.

“What really defined us is our defense this year,” the coach said when asked what made this championship team different from the past two. “We flat out dug the ball.”

While the Eagles saw their 72-match winning streak end against Fossil Ridge earlier this season, they went on to win their next 13 matches. Eight were sweeps and none of them went beyond four sets. It was more of the dominance the Eagles have displayed under McHugh’s tenure as the team has never lost more than four games in a traditionally scheduled season since she took over in 2019.

Elarton said that loss was a turning point that led to a state championship.

“It kinda lit a fire under us,” she said. “We decided that now is the time to go and started to practice harder. It all paid off today and I think it really helped us.”

During the championship match, the Eagles took a 19-18 lead in the first set and kept that narrow edge through the first break. The second set was more lopsided, with Valor controlling proceedings throughout, and final set was broken up after the Titans posted an early advantage.

Between McGatlin, an LSU beach volleyball commit, and Elarton, headed to Georgia next year, the high-level talent of the Eagles was on full display during the match. The connection between the coach and her setter was apparent as well.

“There’s just not enough words for Chloe,” McHugh said, holding back tears. “She works so hard at her craft and she’s so coachable. She’s the best setter at least in the western half of the United States, no question about it.”

In addition to Elarton and McGatlin, four more seniors will graduate for Valor’s roster. But just like in previous years, where the Eagles graduated seemingly irreplaceable players, the team is confident about the talent coming up.

“For Valor, people can see us and continue the work,” McGatlin said. “They can see how we’ve had these amazing starters and we’re going to continue to have those. It’s going to be an amazing program because the girls continue to work for what they want.”