PUEBLO – Wearing No. 1 on her back and announced first to the fans inside CSU-Pueblo’s Massari Arena early Friday evening, June 13, Taylor Barry then proceeded to let her skills sear her name into attentive fans’ memories as she and her Red teammates strove for first place in the 2025 Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State Games’ volleyball tournament.
Able to down the match’s first true kill shot, increasing Red’s early lead against Black to 10-4 and pressing the enemy into using a timeout, the graduated Dove Creek senior’s starting-lineup inclusion wasn’t a courtesy and came with virtually no hesitation.
“I have had the privilege of coaching her twice,” said Red head coach Leslie Weis, alluding to the fact Barry was on her Class 1A-Red roster at the Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports All-State Games back in November ’24. “And one of my all-time favorite things is that she is such a kindhearted soul – and she can play anywhere!”
Utilized by Weis and assistant Tiffany Aragon, both of De Beque High School, in both back- and front-row roles, and seldom off Harry H. Simmons Court for more than a couple minutes, Barry helped Red cruise to a 25-16 win in Set 1 before Black, benefiting in Set 2 from a 9-4 start similar to Red’s initial breakout, evened the contest with a 25-22 win capped by consecutive blocks by Gypsum Eagle Valley’s Aspen Misch.
Red, however, roared right back and forced Black into using another timeout after a kill by DBHS’ Ava Vines put Red ahead 6-0. A Barry pass then helped Vines down another ball, and a subsequent Barry dig led directly to a kill by Mead’s Hailey Hall. A net violation then increased Red’s lead to 9-0 before Black’s Naomi Decker (Thornton Riverdale Ridge) pounded a kill, removing ShayLeigh Ulrich (Sterling) from the service line.
Opposing coaches Kassidy Froese (Cheraw) and Britney Branson (Edwards Vail Christian) would elect to use their second timeout after Red repelled Black’s first real advance and rebuilt a 15-8 advantage, but the set – and match, for that matter – then took another pro-Red turn when Misch went down with an apparent left-knee injury while blocking in tandem with Peighton Marrero (Strasburg) against Jessica Venneberg (Bennett), and Black trailing 17-11.
“Very heavy on her block – she was very solid,” Barry said, “so I do think it affected the game in some way. But I’m definitely not doubting my team’s ability to still overcome the (second-set Black) win.”
“The grittiness, the heart, the never giving up, and just giving everything you have …. Every girl gave everything they had and played hard to the end,” she continued. “That’s how Erin (DCHS’ Barry) coaches and, yeah, it was definitely similar.”
Barry had a chance to sew up Set 3 but, with Red on set point at 24-18, cracked a kill shot just long. Black’s Addison Goff, a teammate of Decker’s at RRHS, returned the gift moments later when she hit a ball outside the antenna, giving Red a 25-19 win and 2-1 lead in sets.
“I was trying to figure out our subs and trying to get everybody some playing time, and it was the ‘team’ dynamic that really helped,” said Weis. “They were helping each other and encouraging each other and I think that’s why they played so well together and came out with a win.”
“I’ve never coached a team with that many kids – I’m from a small town – so it was kind of interesting; we had three setters, three middles, you know,” she added, “and … they were willing to try anything and just wanted to play. They really enjoy the game of volleyball and it shows.”
Red again gained the upper hand early in Set 4, along with another unexpected bonus when Marrero – who later that night became the statewide girls’ CHSCA Freddie Steinmark Award winner (Lakewood Green Mountain’s Simon Lunsford was the boys’ recipient) for excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service – injured her left shoulder and had to shroud it in ice for the remainder of the match.
First reaching match point at 24-17, Red’s patience was briefly tested as Black’s Decker scored via a clever set dump and middle Bobbi Starkebaum (Haxtun) followed with a kill. But the hard-hitting Hall, a strong complement to Vines, answered with a kill securing Red a 25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19 triumph.
“Yesterday when we started playing, we were kind of getting used to each other and stuff. But by, probably, the middle of the first set (in Red’s semifinal win over White) we were already kind of jelling together and working really well together,” explained Barry, considering either Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia, AR) or Utah Tech University (St. George, Utah) to pursue studies in nursing or athletic training.
“And I had the best teammates ever; all these girls … they’re just competitive, high-level and play a fast tempo. But I don’t take any of the glory or credit for myself; I give it to Jesus for just the ability to walk out here and play my hardest. It felt pretty amazing, and I’m so thankful. Couldn’t ask for anything more.”
White, meanwhile, bounced back from its loss to Red with a 25-16, 18-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10 victory over Blue – with Ignacio’s Marissa Olguin, like Barry, representing the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League – in the third-place match.
Having committed to study at and play volleyball for Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota,, under head coach Sophia Lobo Paes and graduate assistant Morgan Burnett (a former Fairplay South Park standout), Dove Creek’s Ralynn Hickman was also present at the CHSCA All-State Games, but as a basketball participant.
A CCGS All-State pick in the sport back in March, Hickman suited up in Pueblo for the Black team and chosen coaches Matt Baumgartner and Ashlea Carothers, both of Greeley’s University High.
Requests made for scores/statistics of Black’s semifinal loss Tuesday evening, June 10, to Blue, and third-place battle against Red the next afternoon had not been answered as of press time.
