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Kelsi Meyer knows what it's like to be last. She is the youngest one of four sisters to play volleyball at San Juan under coach Cassy Moon. This year, she was one of the last players remaining who logged substantial minutes in the Broncos' 2007 championship.
She also knows what it feels like to finish behind. During her sophomore and junior years, the San Juan dynasty — which accounted for 10 championships in the previous 13 years — was briefly in remission. In 2008, the Broncos were third, but in 2009, the team didn't even place.
While one championship ring is certainly nothing to be upset about, Meyer's sisters had two, or even three. And she only had her last year of high school volleyball to try to get another for herself and San Juan.
"It was hard, that's for sure," Meyer says. "This year, though, I think everybody got really close. We all just clicked, and it made it a lot easier."
Led by Meyer — one of only two seniors — the Broncos made it back to the championship match for the first time in three years. And despite having a young core, San Juan showed championship form, using a 16-point rally in the third set to seize control against Enterprise and then closed out on a tight fourth set to win it all.
Even when Meyer didn't lead with her explosive spikes, which were good for 32 kills, she led her team emotionally as well. It's why she is The Tribune's 2A player of the year.
"I'm really excited," teammate Lindsey Christensen said immediately after the match. "We wanted to win this one for Kelsi."
It was the crowning achievement for a tremendous team and a tremendous player who has an uncommon love for the game.
"She is a player we could rely on to bury the ball when it was needed," Moon says. "She is a fun kid who was usually laughing and enjoying most moments of volleyball." See the All-State Volleyball teams here: http://bit.ly/gj8TmG