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Lions volleyball moving forward
  
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Scott Kaniewski
Behind outside hitter Laura Whalen, the Littleton High School volleyball team is making strides.
The Lions defeated Heritage in the final regular-season match to earn a No. 29 seed and a trip to districts on Oct. 31. The win leapfrogged the Lions over the Eagles to put them in a district with host No. 4 Grandview, rather than a potential group with No. 1 Highlands Ranch, where Heritage ended up.
The Lions will lean on their top outside hitter to get them beyond districts.
“Laura is a vocal leader, and she leads by example,” Lions coach and Laura’s mother Margaret Whalen said in an email. “She knows that she is a leader and must perform at a high competitive level in order for her team to be successful.”
Laura Whalen leads the team in kills (202), digs (291) and aces (43). Not bad for a 5-foot-4 junior co-captain. Her numbers put her in the top five in the Continental Conference in all three categories, ranking second in aces.
The numbers haven’t gone unnoticed. Laura Whalen is being recruited by a number of schools, including LSU, Iowa and Southern Mississippi, where older sister Bridget is on a volleyball scholarship.
The Lions are trying to reach Regionals for the first time since 2005, when they qualified for the state tournament. The Lions already have had one good omen. The win over Heritage was the team’s first since 2000, when the Lions went on to reach the state tournament for the first time in school history. Margaret Whalen likes the team’s chances now that they’ve reached Districts.
“I do believe we have a shot at districts to move on to regionals,” the Lions’ coach said. “Because of our tough Continental League schedule, we have a good opportunity.”
The team has impressed its coach.
“It is a very special group, and these types of teams don’t come around every year,” Margaret Whalen said. “Even if our season ended today, I would still feel good about what we have accomplished together as a team.”
Regardless of the Lions’ play at districts, which finished after the paper went to press, Littleton has plenty to look forward to next season, with a strong junior class returning.
“This year’s junior class has really developed, as well as some key sophomores, too,” Margaret Whalen said. “I am optimistic about the future of the team.”
Behind outside hitter Laura Whalen, the Littleton High School volleyball team is making strides.
The Lions defeated Heritage in the final regular-season match to earn a No. 29 seed and a trip to districts on Oct. 31. The win leapfrogged the Lions over the Eagles to put them in a district with host No. 4 Grandview, rather than a potential group with No. 1 Highlands Ranch, where Heritage ended up.
The Lions will lean on their top outside hitter to get them beyond districts.
“Laura is a vocal leader, and she leads by example,” Lions coach and Laura’s mother Margaret Whalen said in an email. “She knows that she is a leader and must perform at a high competitive level in order for her team to be successful.”
Laura Whalen leads the team in kills (202), digs (291) and aces (43). Not bad for a 5-foot-4 junior co-captain. Her numbers put her in the top five in the Continental Conference in all three categories, ranking second in aces.
The numbers haven’t gone unnoticed. Laura Whalen is being recruited by a number of schools, including LSU, Iowa and Southern Mississippi, where older sister Bridget is on a volleyball scholarship.
The Lions are trying to reach Regionals for the first time since 2005, when they qualified for the state tournament. The Lions already have had one good omen. The win over Heritage was the team’s first since 2000, when the Lions went on to reach the state tournament for the first time in school history. Margaret Whalen likes the team’s chances now that they’ve reached Districts.
“I do believe we have a shot at districts to move on to regionals,” the Lions’ coach said. “Because of our tough Continental League schedule, we have a good opportunity.”
The team has impressed its coach.
“It is a very special group, and these types of teams don’t come around every year,” Margaret Whalen said. “Even if our season ended today, I would still feel good about what we have accomplished together as a team.”
Regardless of the Lions’ play at districts, which finished after the paper went to press, Littleton has plenty to look forward to next season, with a strong junior class returning.
“This year’s junior class has really developed, as well as some key sophomores, too,” Margaret Whalen said. “I am optimistic about the future of the team.”
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