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QC volleyball poised for success, playoff run

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Tribune Sports Editor

Last year’s run to the quarterfinals for the Queen Creek volleyball program gave players confidence and showed they could contend with some of the best in the state. They were young, yet talented. And all but four seniors returned ready to replicate that success and do more in the 2022 season. While the team already returned several key components to last year’s team, it also reloaded with talented freshmen. Many of them are still learning who each other are off the court, as the season is still just a few weeks old. But what is starting to take shape is the support they all have for one another on the court, no matter what role they have on the team. “Everybody in the group expects each other’s roles,” Queen Creek coach Eric Crismon said. “This is a group that has a goal and whatever role they have to do to fulfill that goal, everybody is down for it. I think that’s pretty unique.” Crismon’s first season leading the Queen Creek volleyball program was 2012. Since then, she has seen the program move up from the 4A Conference and into the 6A, where they are now. The Bulldogs are faced with a challenging region every year, frequently playing the likes of Corona del Sol, Desert Vista and Highland, some of the top teams in the conference. But this year, a new challenge presents itself with Gilbert making the move up from 5A where it was one of the top teams in 2021. Crismon recognized the challenge that her team faces, especially when undersized compared to some of the other teams in the region. “My kids know it’s going to be a grind,” Crismon said. “Pre-season is tough and fun, then we get into the drags of September and playing region (games), stuff like that. But they know all bets are off when it comes to the playoffs. They know they can make a run.” Sophie Drollinger was one of the top contributors last year during the Bulldogs’ run to the quarterfinals. As a junior, she was third on the team with 165 kills and had 41 aces, the second-most on the team. She was one of the upperclassmen that contributed the most alongside some of the seniors. She was also next in line to take over as one of the leaders, a role that she has come to enjoy this season. Drollinger learned from her older sister, Jaden, who graduated in 2021. Jaden had to help navigate the program through the fall COVID season, where masks were required, games were canceled, and all teams played a condensed schedule. But that senior class, especially Jaden, helped the younger girls through it. Their ability to lead by example both on and off the floor helped Drollinger to become the leader she is now. She helped lead the team through summer workouts and is confident in her team’s ability to be successful this year. “Especially during the summer, we all worked so hard at practice every single week,” Drollinger said. “I think our communication, being supportive and being there for each other no matter what, that’s what is going to help us win. “I think there’s always hardships. But we’re going to win some games.” The impact Drollinger has made on the team doesn’t go unnoticed. In fact, she may not even realize how much she means to her teammates and the coaching staff. Crismon credited her for doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful. Even if it meant playing more back line this season to open the door for freshman Madi-

Queen Creek’s volleyball team, led by coach Erica Crismon, returned most of its key contributors from last year’s team that made a run to the quarterfinals. Now, they’ve reloaded with young talent to join the veterans and are poised for another run. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

One of Queen Creek’s key contributors last season was Sophie Drollinger. Now a senior, she has started to take the lead for her team. She feels the team is a close-knit group that can have success once again in the postsyn Crnjac to start up front. Drollinger has never complained. In fact, Crnjac is one of the players she has taken under her wing. She’s also made an impact on other players. Blaykli Bobic, a junior BYU commit at outside hitter, brought Drollinger to tears when describing how she is as a senior leader. Bobic built a special relationship with Drollinger’s older sister, and it has since carried over. The two are frequently together, and their inseparable bond has started to spread to other girls on the team. “(Drollinger) I can say is by far, if not one of my best friends, my best friend,” Bobic said. “Even when we are all frustrated, she’s so uplifting. It means a lot that I’ve had Sophie on this team with me. “(As a group) we’re really close. We hang out off the court, too. We’re all just so close and we know everything about everyone, our weaknesses, and strengths. To all of us, winning is everything. We will all do whatever it takes to win.” Queen Creek’s only two power-point losses this season have come against Perry and Corona del Sol. Crismon said, while it was only one loss, it was disappointing to the team. They have a checklist of goals they want to accomplish this season. That list includes every opponent they have on their schedule. So far, Perry and Corona del Sol are the only ones they haven’t been able to cross off. But they know there is plenty of season ahead. And their ultimate goal is to win a region championship and state title in November. Crismon said her team is still needing improvement for that to happen, but every girl is bought in. “I think they are starting to see that it doesn’t really matter what we look like right now or what games we win right now,” Crismon said. “What matters is how we are in the end. I think we have to get a lot better. “I think it’s going to take our upperclassmen stepping up and knowing when the game is on the line, they have to execute.” 

23 Queen Creek teams honor sports reporter lost to COVID

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Tribune Sports Editor

Andy Luberda loved nothing more than his wife, Kelly, and son, Kade. If he had to choose a close second, it would be high school football in the Queen Creek area and further into the southeast Valley. It’s where he and Kelly made names for themselves as top-notch reporters who always put the interests of the players and coaches in the area first. It’s also the community that embraced him and adored the coverage they provided. His death in 2020 from COVID-19 sent shockwaves throughout the high school football community. It hit especially hard in Queen Creek, where he covered the Bulldogs and American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek heavily. So, when the two teams met for the first time ever Friday, Sept. 23, both programs knew they had to make it special. It was the type of game Andy would’ve enjoyed, one filled with hard-hitting action. In the end, it was the Bulldogs who held off a furious second-half rally by the Patriots 2717 in the first-ever Andy Luberda Classic. “I think it’s the utmost respect,” said Kade Luberda, Andy’s son who was present for the game. “I’m extremely grateful. It’s not expected and that’s what means the most to me. They’re doing this for him and it’s the highest honor, in my opinion, they could do for him. I’m happy to be here.” Kade was presented with a Queen Creek jersey signed by all the players and coaches before the game. ALA gave him a helmet also signed by players and coaches. It was the precursor for an emotional game that was dominated by strong defensive play from both sides. It was shortly after the football season had ended in 2020 that Andy fell ill with COVID. At the time, he was living in an apartment, as he was preparing to make the move to Kentucky with Kade and Kelly, who were already there. After a few days went by with no contact, they sent police in for a welfare check. That’s when Andy was found suffering from severe symptoms of the virus. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Kade said there were times his father appeared to be getting better. Then, he would take a turn. He never lost faith. He knew his dad was a fighter. But on Dec. 29, Kade Luberda, “middle,” was presented with a signed jersey from Queen Creek and helmet from American Leadership Academy – Queen Creek before the two teams faced off Friday, Sept. 23. It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools, and they dubbed it the Andy Luberda Classic in honor of Kade’s father, a sports reporter that brought attention to the far southeast Valley. (Andy Silvas/Tribune Contributor)

2020, after he was placed on a ventilator, Andy passed. “It was super hard,” Kade said. “It was definitely very tough. I had high expectations that he was going to be OK because he went up, but things never came all the way back up. I know he’s a strong man and he did everything he could. That gives me peace of mind. But outside of that, it was tough.” His death rocked the entire high school football community. It hit especially hard in the Schureman household. Travis, the head coach of the Queen Creek football program, never went a morning without speaking to Andy. They celebrated holidays together, they would have long conversations about football, family and life. Andy became family. “I have a lot of love for Andy and their family,” Schureman said. “I still have his number saved in my favorites. I look at it all the time. Andy, I could call him at 2 in the morning or 5 in the morning and he would pick up and just listen, talk to me. “I’m just grateful for him and his friendship and what it meant.” Andy brought recognition to the far southeast Valley. He brought coverage to schools and players that didn’t often receive the same attention as schools closer to Phoenix. Those schools adored him for that. ALA Queen Creek coach Ty Detmer met Andy once, right before he took over the head job. In that one meeting, while brief, Detmer realized the passion Andy had for schools in Queen Creek and Pinal County. So, when Schureman approached him about hosting the first-ever Andy Luberda Classic in the first meeting between the schools, he immediately accepted. Despite the loss, he knows there was a bigger meaning to the matchup between the two schools. “I think (Andy) would’ve loved it,” Detmer said. “It was a great hard-fought game for the East Valley.” Kade now lives back in Arizona. His mom still resides in Kentucky. There isn’t a day that goes by the two don’t think about Andy. He was Kade’s best friend, his mentor. He’s thankful to both Queen Creek and ALA for the game. He’s also thankful he was able to attend, where he was met with hugs from both sides and fellow media members. He stood on the Queen Creek sideline all game, and at times drifted to the north end zone — his father’s favorite spot to watch the game. It was a special night that reminded him of a special human being. He knew as he stood there and watched the action on the field, his dad was right there with him. “He’s been here. I think he’s on the sideline right now,” Kade said. “He’s here for sure, I have no doubt in my mind.” 

Andy Luberda passed away due to complication with COVID-19 in December 2020. His death shocked the entire Arizona high school football community. Best known for his website, County Line Preps, Andy quickly became the face of Queen Creek and other Pinal County football programs for his coverage. (Andy Silvas/Tribune Contributor)

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Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timeslocalmedia.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.