BROOMFIELD — The soft-spoken Hanna Boyer is not one to hold a grudge in most things. But Broomfield’s senior outside hitter has been stewing since the last time her team played its cross-town rival.
Boyer had good reason to allow the Eagles’ falter against Legacy stick with her for nearly a year. For all intents and purposes, Boyer believes her team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
But it was evident from the start Thursday night, the Eagles were not going to allow a repeat of last year’s mistakes. And while Boyer said it required Broomfield digging deep, the team came out with a convincing 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 win over Legacy to start the season.
“This has definitely been a game I’ve been thinking about,” Boyer said. “It was really great to get some redemption.”
Broomfield (1-0) might have earned bragging rights in three sets, but Boyer promises it was no easy task.
While the Eagles came out of the gate strong in the match, Legacy (0-1) gave them both barrels in the third. The Lightning jumped out to a four-point lead early in the set and led until the final 2 points. The situation was tense, Boyer said, but it was also one she knew her team could handle.
“We just kept ourselves calm and played together to finish off the match,” she said.
Boyer was the spearhead of Broomfield’s attack, slamming down nine kills on the evening. But she was far from the only Eagle attacker who put the ball on the fast track to the hardwood. Monica Tuz was wowed by her entire front line, with Callie Kaiser’s eight kills and Tori Biggerstaff’s seven providing a red-hot start on offense.
“We’re a lot more balanced than we were a year ago, we don’t have just one girl slamming down all our points,” the Broomfield coach said. “We have more people who can get the job done, which is huge.”
Biggerstaff was a persistent thorn in the Lightning’s side with the sophomore exploiting what turned out to be one of Legacy’s weakest points. A Lightning injury meant the middle met little resistance on the attack.
“I was missing two girls, but Kelly Scharlau hurt tonight,” Legacy coach Lora Faust said. “There was definitely a void in the middle, because I had to pull a JV player up two days ago to fill in for her.”
Faust might have been shorthanded, but had some players step up to keep the Lightning in the running. The team’s lone returning starter, Aleka Stevens, was one of the most animated players on the court.
The outside hitter lead her team’s attack with seven kills and finished the night with 10 digs.
The outcome was far from how Faust aimed to kickoff the season. But the coach does not believe it will take long for her Lightning to producing striking play on the court.
“I’m thrilled with what I’ve seen on the court,” she said. “It’s just going to be a matter of us going out an playing our game.”
Follow Elwood on Twitter @ElwoodKShelton.
Broomfield 3, Legacy 0
At Broomfield H.S.
Legacy (0-0, 0-0) 15 22 23
Broomfield (0-0, 0-0) 25 25 25
Kills — Legacy: Aleka Stevens 7. Broomfield: Hannah Boyer 9.
Blocks — Legacy: Caitlyn Smith 5, Morgan Panko 5. Broomfield: Brenna Fankell 8.
Assists — Legacy: N/A. Broomfield: Kailee Van Tine 31.
Aces — Legacy: Sadie Gettings 1. Broomfield: Kailee Van Tine 2.
Digs — Legacy: Aleka Stevens 10. Broomfield: Rachel Dye 11.
