CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW – WEEK SIX
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
As the regular season hits the midpoint, Class 1A teams are scrambling to either secure their spot in the top-24 so they can make the field of 24 for regionals, or trying to work their way into a position to host a regional pairing. We are using both the MileHigh Prep Report Media Poll and the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index for rankings. The Seeding Index information is as of Thursday morning.
MERINO LADY RAMS (#1 MHPR, #1 CHSAA 10-0)
The biggest news to come out of the last week of matches for Merino was the Lady Rams lost their first sets of the year. As expected, Simla pushed them hard last Saturday, forcing the contest to a fifth set. Merino came out on top, 15-9 in the final set. On Tuesday, the Lady Rams got another solid test in the form of 2A #6 Limon. That one went four, but Merino remained unblemished on the season. While the record may not indicate Thursday’s match with Weldon Valley (5-5) should be much of a challenge, the Lady Warriors have pushed a number of top teams to the limit, including the #1 and #2 teams in 2A, and an unbeaten Timnath squad in 3A. It’s the lone match for Merino until next Thursday, so their full focus will be on the feisty team from Weldona.
MCCLAVE LADY CARDINALS (#2 MHPR, #2 CHSAA 8-0)
Avery Hemphill (10), Ashlynn Steinbrunn (9), and Abrielle Gomez (9) combined for 28 kills last Thursday in a match that McClave allowed a total of 26 points to South Baca. Gomez took the starring role in Tuesday’s clash of unbeatens against Cheraw, hammering 18 kills to reach 86 on the season. The sophomore is only 73 away from 500 in her young career. McClave won that match 3-0, with the first set going 30-28. The only action for the Lady Cards this week is a non-league trek to Crowley County on Saturday.
SIMLA LADY CUBS (#3 MHPR, #5 CHSAA 7-3)
Simla had a full week to prepare for that big match with Merino last Saturday and it showed. The Lady Cubs dropped the first and third sets, but kept coming back and forced the fifth by winning the evens. Freshman Carlee Cox pounded 18 kills and junior Elle Leininger added a dozen. Cox tallied 34 digs, as the team popped up 127. Meadow Nusbaum recorded 25 assists in Tuesday’s sweep of Colorado Springs School. The junior is one of three players in the classification with more than 300 on the season. Simla allowed a total of 16 points in that win. The Lady Cubs host their own tournament on Saturday and will see the likes of Hoehne and Soroco during the event.
OTIS LADY BULLDOGS (#4 MHPR, #3 CHSAA 8-3)
And the beat goes on for the Lady Bulldogs in the YWKC, as they beat Idalia in four sets last Friday. They have won 13 straight regular season matches in the league, and have only lost two in the last 15-plus seasons. Otis had to rally after dropping the opening set. Maddie Willeke had 21 kills to set the tone. The Lady Bulldogs will compete in the Akron tournament on Saturday and will face Yuma and Stratton in pool play. The other pool includes Byers and Holyoke, as well as the hosts. Otis goes to Prairie next Tuesday for a non-league tilt.
DOVE CREEK LADY BULLDOGS (#5 MHPR, #7 CHSAA 11-2)
Dove Creek ran its winning streak to five, but the last two weren’t easy. The Lady Bulldogs dropped the opening set to Ignacio last Saturday, and needed extras to even the match (27-25) in the second, before going on to win in four. The duo of Ralynn Hickman (17) and Kylie Gatlin (15) recorded 32 kills. They had 30 combined kills the night before, nineteen by Gatlin, in a 3-0 win over Norwood. The Lady Bulldogs got their rematch with 2A #9 Mancos on Tuesday, after falling in five sets earlier in the season. The match lived up to expectations, with another five-setter on tap. Dove Creek won the odds and Mancos took the evens, as they went to the fifth. The Lady Bulldogs exploded in that final set, dominating their way to a 15-2 win, handing Mancos its first loss of the year. Hickman and Gatlin each had 21 kills, putting them second and third in the classification. Kalie Gatlin registered 43 assists, putting her in first by one with 338 on the season. Dove Creek’s only action of the week is on Friday, with a home match against Norwood.
IDALIA LADY WOLVES (#6 MHPR, #8 CHSAA 10-3)
Idalia had little time to recover from last Friday’s loss at Otis, as the Lady Wolves were in action on Saturday in a quad at Bethune. After rolling 25-9 in the first against the hosts, Idalia dropped the second 23-25. That would be the only set they would lose all day, coming back to take the third 15-3. They swept Cheyenne Wells in two and Belleview Christian in two. Idalia rides that three-match win streak into Thursday’s home non-league affair with 2A Wray, and then the Lady Wolves are off until next Saturday’s big clash with Stratton.
STRATTON LADY EAGLES (#7 MHPR, #15 CHSAA 4-2)
Speaking of Stratton, the Lady Eagles improved to 2-0 in the Union Pacific with a tough sweep of Genoa-Hugo/Karval on the road last Friday. Sedonia Isenbart put down 11 kills to lead the team, while Sophie Isenbart added eight and McKenna Notter put away seven. Clare Miltenberger served four aces, moving her closer to 100 for her career. She has 86 so far. Stratton hosts Hi-Plains on Friday and then goes into the Akron tournament on Saturday. They are in the same pool as Otis and Yuma.
HAXTUN FIGHTIN’ LADY BULLDOGS (#8 MHPR, #12 CHSAA 9-5)
Haxtun’s had only one match in the last week and that came on Tuesday when the Fightin’ Lady Bulldogs picked up an important LPAA win at 2A Wray in four sets. Haxtun won the final two sets to improve to 3-1 in league play. The Fightin’ Lady Bulldogs kept the Wray defense off balance with an attack that had six players gain at least six kills. Cassidy Goddard led with 11. Megan Walker and Kelsie Hadeen directed the attack, recording 17 and 16 assists, respectively. Haxtun is on the road Saturday for a non-league contest with Fleming, and will stay on the road for Tuesday’s league clash at Yuma.
BRIGGSDALE LADY FALCONS (#9 MHPR, #6 CHSAA 9-2)
Briggsdale went through a busy stretch late last week, with three straight nights of action. That began with a tough five-set win over Weldon Valley in North Central play on Thursday. The Lady Falcons led 2-0, before having to win it 15-10 in the fifth. Jenna Krise (29) and Kayl Klem (22) combined for 51 kills in the match, as Libby Slinger picked up a career-high 50 assists. Krise added 41 digs to her big night. The Lady Falcons followed that up by sweeping Arickaree 25-15 in all three sets on Friday. The weekend wrapped up with a sweep of Caliche on the road on Saturday. Briggsdale takes a five-match winning streak into Thursday rivalry match against Fleming. Fleming has won the last four meetings and 39 of the previous 42 overall. The Lady Falcons are also on the road on Saturday, taking part in a tri at Hi-Plains. Belleview Christian is the third team.
CHERAW LADY WOLVERINES (#10 MHPR, #4 CHSAA 9-1)
While Cheraw’s winning streak to open the season came to an end in the sweep defeat at the hands of McClave on Tuesday, there were signs that maybe the Lady Wolverines were starting to have some issues last weekend. Cheraw needed five sets to beat Cheyenne Wells on Friday, winning the fifth 15-5. It was their third five set win of the season. The following day, the Lady Wolverines visited Springfield and needed four sets to earn their ninth straight win to begin the season. They look to prevent a losing streak and get back on track Thursday against Las Animas in non-league action. Cheraw will also be at home on Friday to host Eads in High Plains play.
GRANADA LADY BOBCATS (#11 MHPR, #14 CHSAA 5-1)
Granada bounced back from its first loss of the season to pick up a sweep victory over Walsh last Friday. Freshman Kinsley Williams had six kills and six aces to lead the way. The Lady Bobcats then made it two straight wins by beating Crowley County in four on Monday. ToriLin Riddle led with nine kills, while Williams recorded 18 assists. Granada travels to Bethune on Thursday before playing its first High Plains contest of the season on Saturday at Cheyenne Wells.
WELDON VALLEY LADY WARRIORS (#12 MHPR, #11 CHSAA 5-5)
As noted earlier, the Lady Warriors continue to push teams to the limit. The five set loss to Briggsdale last Thursday was the fourth five-setter defeat for the team. Their other loss was to 3A Timnath in three sets, during a best of three format in a tournament. They also have a win in five sets this season over Fleming. After Thursday’s big non-league contest at Merino, Weldon Valley travels to Prairie on Friday and hosts Peetz on Tuesday. Both matches are inside the NCL.
HI-PLAINS LADY PATRIOTS (#13 MHPR, #9 CHSAA 5-1)
Hi-Plains picked up a nice non-league win last Saturday, beating Flagler in four sets. After winning the first two, the Lady Patriots were unable to close it out in sweep as Flagler took a wild 28-26 third. Hi-Plains put it back together to wrap it up 25-18. Caelan Church put down 10 kills, while Brooklynn Henschel (21) and Cloe Smith (19) combined for 40 digs. The Lady Patriots are busy this weekend, visiting Stratton on Friday and then hosting a tri on Saturday with Briggsdale and Belleview Christian.
LA VETA LADY REDHAWKS (#14 MHPR, #10 CHSAA 9-2)
La Veta pushed its winning streak to four, all by sweeps, after taking down Primero, Evangel Christian, and Sangre de Cristo last weekend. It was a big stretch for Mattie Bjorum, who had 40 total kills over the three match span. That included 16 against Primero. She is fifth in 1A with 129 so far. The Lady Redhawks will be in the Simla tournament this weekend, facing Dayspring Christian and Kit Carson in pool play.
FLEMING LADY WILDCATS (#15 MHPR, #13 CHSAA 7-4)
Fleming got a strong test last Thursday from Lone Star, but still earned the sweep victory. The Lady Wildcats were pushed in the third, finally taking it 28-26. Ashley Bornhoft had a team-high 10 kills, while Madi Serrato added seven kills, four aces, and 10 digs. They will look to extend their dominance over Briggsdale in Thursday’s rivalry match, and then face another big challenge on Saturday at home against Haxtun.
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