Class 2A Volleyball Regional Predictions
With Regional Volleyball across all three classes we have decided to release are Regional Predictions. When we get to the state tournament we will do a full breakdown and not just predictions. I will give my prediction for each Region and then a quick thought about each region.
Region 1
Regional Winner: Yuma
Yuma went perfect through the regular season against 2A opponents. Yuma only loss is to 3A University. Yuma will be the favorite to win the Class 2A State title but will have to first get by Peyton and Crowley County. Yuma will be the favorite to win both matches.
Region 2
Regional Winner: Denver Christian
Denver Christian like Yuma was also undefeated during the regular season against 2A opponents. Denver Christian lone loss comes to 3A Alamosa. Denver Christian along with a few teams will be in contention to challenge Yuma for the state championship. Denver Christian main competition in the region will come from Paonia.
Region 3
Regional Winner: Meeker
Meeker rolled to a perfect 23-0 regular season mark. They played a tough schedule with plenty of 3A and 1A opponents. Meeker lost just 2 sets the entire season and we will see if they are battle tested for the tournament. Meeker will be challenged Holyoke but will be heavily favored to advance to the state tournament. Meeker also will be in contention for a state championship.
Region 4
Regional Winner: Wiggins
Wiggins went 20-2 during the regular season with losses coming to 1A Otis and Yuma (3-0). Wiggins played a tough schedule but going down 3-0 to Yuma does raise some concerns. Wiggins is on a 5 game winning streak entering regionals. Wiggins will be challenged by both Heritage Christian and Rangely but I expect them to get to the state tournament.
Region 5
Regional Winner: Swink
Swink is a team that if they get hot could turn into title contenders. Swink ended the year in a weird way losing to Hoehne but then beating Del Norte. Swink has a lot of quality wins but coming together at the right time could make or break a deep run for Swink. Swink drew a region that should provide a test. Sanford and Wray both will challenge Swink as both played against quality opponents and should not be afraid of the moment. Swink though will be favored to get to the state tournament but seeing how they get their could mean a deep run or not.
Region 6
Regional Winner: Del Norte
Region 6 will be one of the more interesting regions and I think will come down too the final match of the day. Del Norte and Dolores will be favored against Rocky Ford but when the two league champions meet up it will be for a berth to state. Dolores won the San Juan League but early season losses to John Mall, Sangre De Cristo, and Dove Creek make you wonder how good Dolores is. Dolores cruised through the rest of the regular season and we will find out if they have improved from the beginning of the year. Del Norte won the Southern Peaks League with some easy beating second place Sanford (3-1) (3-0). Del Norte did loss two games along the way to Alamosa and Swink both solid losses and Del Norte has key wins on Hoehne, Rye, Salida, and Sangre De Cristo. Del Norte will be challenged but I do think they will get to the state tournament.
Region 7
Regional Winner: Rye
As we move deeper into the regions thing do begin to get tougher. Region 7 starts the trend with Rye, Akron, and Dayspring Christian all in 1 region. Akron at times this season looked to be a solid team but ended their season with a 2 game losing streak. Dayspring Christian won 3 of their final 5 games to give themselves at a shot at the playoffs. Rye finished the year winning 3 games in a row and winning the Santa Fe League over Swink and Hoehne. Rye did recently lose to Simla (3-1) and also have losses to Del Norte and Swink. Rye will be the favorite in this region but could be challenged by the other two teams.
Region 8
Regional Winner: Vail Mountain
Region 8 has two very interesting teams in it and a team that has improved as the year has progressed. Sedgwick County is the lowest seed in the region but has improved as the year has progressed and found themselves into the playoffs. They will be hard pressed to win a game but after the tough start to the season it’s a good sign to see them in the playoffs. Vail Mountain and Dawson School are two very intriguing teams. Dawson School saw themselves ranked early in the year but dropped some games and fell out of the rankings. Dawson School did drop 3 of their final 4 games but did snag some momentum beating Union Colony Prep 3-1. My pick in Region 8 is Vail Mountain. Vail Mountain was not ranked till late in the year and also finished second in the Western Slope League. Vail Mountain didn’t leave the Western Slope league but have wins on De Beque, Paonia, and Aspen. The biggest question mark is how good is vail Mountain and having a tough region we will learn a lot more about the Western Slope teams.
Region 9
Regional Winner: Simla
A late surge had me really think hard about my region 9 winner. Limon had a great surge at the end of the year to really make me rethink this region. Limon won 4 of their last 5 games including a win over Byers to end the year. Limon though did drop a game to Akron, but Limon did barely lose to Simla 3-2 which is why Region 9 will be a great fight to get into the state tournament. Simla has also played well late into the season picking up a big win over Rye and pushing Wiggins but losing 2-1. Simla won’t have a easy time in this region and the final game of the day will be a good one.
Region 10
Regional Winner: Hoehne
Things really get interesting in Region 10. 3 school all starting to play good volleyball collide. Only 1 school enters on a losing streak but it’s a school that turned it around late in the year. This region features Hoehne, Lyons, and Plateau Valley. Hoehne and Plateau Valley enter the region on a 4-game winning streak and both are playing good Volleyball. Lyons turned their slow start around with a nice run during the middle of the year. Lyons did end losing 3 of their final 4 games but quality competition is the cause. This region will be a good one but I am leaning with Hoehne who has seemed to figure things out.
Region 11
Regional Winner: Highland
Highland enters regionals playing good volleyball winning their final 3 games of solid competition; Lyons, Dawson School, and Union Colony Prep. That 3 game stretch bumped them from #16 in the RPI to #11 and hosting a region. Highland seems to have come together as a team but a solid Byers team stands in their way. Byers had a really good season and closed the year out winning 3 of their final 4 games. Byers is hoping that their tough schedule will have them prepared for regionals. I do think Highland has the momentum and will use it to advance.
Region 12
Regional Winner: Holly
When talking about teams who have figured things out you have to mention Holly. They started the year losing 5 straight games but bounced back nicely winning 12 of their final 14 games. Holly ended the year winning 4 of their final 5 games with the lone loss coming to La Veta. Holly also has a top hitter and if she gets going will be a tough team to stop. Standing in Holly way is Union Colony Prep and Colorado Springs School. Union Colony Prep at 1 point this season was 12-1 but did not end the year great losing 7 of their final 10 games. Union Colony Prep is hoping to rebound to their early season success and did show some of that with their win over Lyons. Union Colony Prep will have some time to prepare but will be facing a hot Holly team.
MileHigh Prep Report 