Niwot volleyball impressive in season-opening win

Before the 2021 volleyball season began, fifth-year head coach Daisha Agho wasn't sure if she was more excited about the veterans returning to the varsity lineup, or the impressive newcomers, who do more than just fill holes left after graduation. As it turned out, players from both groups came up big for the Cougars in a stirring season-opening victory over Class 4A runner-up Mead, and Agho is now even more excited for what's to come for the rest of 2021.

"We were excited to get to see some competition like that and see how we can stack up against it," she said after Niwot's 3-1 road win over the Mavericks (23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20) on Aug. 25. "I knew coming in tonight, Mead's good. They lost a few kiddos last year, but coming off of being a state runner-up, they still had several great players on their side."

But it was Niwot's great players and their performances that were foremost on her mind as the Cougars took the court for the first time since May 1, when they lost two straight matches in the Class 4A regionals. With that disappointment in mind, the coach was looking to her players to come out "firing on all cylinders and playing fundamentally sound volleyball," a philosophy the team adopted during the short offseason.

That's not exactly what happened at Mead, however, at least in the first set, which Agho later called "jittery." Niwot kept the score close for most of it, and even started to pull away after the game was tied at 17. But, after being down 23-19, Mead went on a 5-0 run for the comeback win.

"We weren't quite on the offensive attack, and I felt like we were on our heels a little bit," Agho said.

Momentum started to shift Niwot's way during the second set, as the team "started to get its groove back," as Ahgo put it. Helping with that was freshman setter Anne Haley, an unusually poised newcomer who seemed at ease during the tense match.

"I was really impressed with her composure on the court," Ahgo said. "Serving in those stressful situations, usually we see freshman mistakes, and right now, I can't even tell you if there was one. She knows how to set, she knows how to run the court, and I needed that from her. I was really excited for the way she came out just engaged and fired up. She doesn't look like a freshman."

Six-foot middle hitter Zoe Gibbs was also a factor in Niwot's turnaround during the second set, as the senior showed off her offensive prowess. The recent University of Northern Colorado commit posted nine of her 13 kills in the first two sets, and Agho is eager to see how her fourth and final season progresses.

"Offensively, obviously, she's a huge threat, and I know that a lot of teams are scouting us because of her," the coach said. "But with her versatility and being able to use her on the outside, and or the right side, and or middle, we can put her wherever and she's going to be effective no matter how big of a block they put up."

Behind Haley and Gibbs, the Cougars amassed an 11-point lead in the second set, before ultimately winning 25-22. But it was thanks to another newcomer in the third set when Niwot took the driver's seat for good. Junior outside hitter Paige Demosthenes, a transfer from Longmont who sat out her sophomore year, had four crucial kills against the Mavericks, leading Niwot to a 25-17 set win. She would go on to post seven kills, eight digs, and an ace.

"I'm so grateful that she actually gets to play this year," Agho said. "We needed her at that moment, and she knew it. She was very solid, and I think that's probably the biggest reason that we got that confidence going forward. That pushed us over the edge to be able to compete the way that we did and come out with a W."

The fourth set was closer, but the eventual 25-20 Niwot win never seemed in doubt. The Cougars were strong on both offense and at the net, especially with sophomore Addison Engle blocking up front. Though technically not a newcomer to the team, the tall middle hitter is new to the starting lineup, and has already proved a "huge, huge advantage," according to Agho. Against Mead, Engle led the Cougars with six blocks, and also posted two kills, and two aces.

"Compared to last year, she's so much bigger laterally, and she sees the ball fairly well," the coach said. "We call her 'Go Go Gadget Arms' because of her reach. We're super excited for the growth that she's shown over the offseason, as short as it was."

Also starting for Niwot this season are juniors Grace Demmel and Varshini Panuganti, a three-year veteran libero. They will be joined by senior Megan Dougherty and junior Angie Xu, another accomplished setter who gives Ahgo that all-important depth.

"Angie and Anne have created this really fun healthy competition within our team and it's just making everybody better," Agho said. "They're complimentary of each other all the time. There's no ill will towards one or the other. They just have that fun competitive nature in practice that is just push push each other to get better."

Returning to the bench as an assistant coach for Niwot is Tony Engle, Addison's father and a former collegiate player. He joined the team last season, and Agho is looking forward to another successful collaboration.

"Tony's setting background is phenomenal," Agho said. "I always try to find an assistant who can complement my aspect of coaching, which is more of a team concept. He's gonna be a great addition and I'm super excited to have him back again."

With all of those pieces in place, Agho is optimistic about Niwot's chances in the postseason, but cautiously so. She still sees gaps in Niwot's play, most glaring in their transition to defense. "We keep getting stuck looking up in the air quite a bit," she said. "I wish we'd start to focus our vision more on the other side defensively." And, there is plenty of top competition in Class 4A, including league rival Thompson Valley. But it's hard to argue with talent, good team chemistry, and hard work, and Niwot has all of that in abundance, Agho said.

"I fully expect us to still be at regionals and then make a run for state as well. That's completely feasible with this group. These girls love each other, and it's so fun to be around them. I'm really excited about the season."