Durango rallies by Green Valley to win state title

The Durango High volleyball team was three games away from the seemingly impossible: going through an entire Las Vegas-area schedule without losing a single game.

Only Green Valley was standing in the Trailblazers' way Wednesday in the 4A Nevada State Volleyball Championship game at Chaparral, a team Durango had beaten twice during the regular season.

But the Gators came out strong, shocking Durango by winning the first game 15-2, before the Trailblazers took control of the match by winning the next three games 15-4, 15-9, 15-6, to win the inaugural state championship.

"We weren't ready to play," said Durango's David Doxey, the MVP of the tournament. "Since we already beat them twice I think we kind of had the mind-set that we were going to come in here and dominate them.

"I just think we needed that break in between games to realize what we were doing wrong and that we can still win the game."

The Gators scored 10 points before the Trailblazers got on the board by getting an unexpected boost from their undersized frontline players, who tallied eight kills in the run.

It wasn't long before the Blazers began to turn the tables, using their superior size and power.

All-Sunset Division outside hitters Graham Vilkin and Sean Doney punished the Gators with their high-powered attack after the first game.

"I think we were able to (see) a little frustration on their faces," said Durango coach Bob Kelly. "Then they realized that their first swings weren't going down like they did in the first game. That meant we were in more of a rally situation.

"They didn't have the size at the net except for Matt (Sugden). He was the only one at the net with the ability to contend with our hitters."

The final game was close early. Durango jumped out to a 6-2 lead before Green Valley's Ean Zeller served four points in a row including an ace to tie the game.

With the score 8-6 and the Blazers serving, Doney ripped a kill to make it 9-6 and spark a series of five straight points.

"We thought of last year as a state title too," said Doxey. "Having it be official and everything, it's a good accomplishment."

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