Class 2A Volleyball Weekly Preview-Week 9 by Tayler Rocha

Class 2A Volleyball Weekly Preview-Week 10 by Tayler Rocha

We are down to the final two weeks of the regular season. It’s time for teams to make their move to get into regionals or for a better seed. This week we take a look at the last 10 teams into the playoffs as records currently stand (27-36), and the first 5 teams that would be out.

Burlington

Burlington comes in with a 9-10 overall record, 1-4 in league play and 6^th in the Union Pacific league. In the previous week, the Cougars lost to Limon 3-2 and Stratton 0-3, but were able to beat Kiowa 3-1. Burlington has four games left in the regular season to prove they are ready to play in the post season. In these games, Burlington will face Wray on 10/20, Flagler on 10/24, Holyoke on 10/27, and Deer Trail on 10/28. Leaders for the Cougars are Trinitee Holmes with 48 total blocks and 195 kills, Azalia Fuentes with 31 serving aces and 239 digs, and Reagan Simpson with 464 assists.

Dayspring Christian

Dayspring Christian is currently sitting in 3^rd in the Mile High League with a 7-2 league record and 10-11 overall. The Eagles have won their last 4 games including their most recent one against Dawson School 3-0. They only have two regular season games left against Bishop Machebeuf on 9/19 and Heritage Christian on 10/24. Stat leaders for the team are Nika Gomez with 40 total blocks and 127 kills, Bella Flores with 33 serving aces, and Emmery Bonnell with 302 digs, and 344 assists.

Byers

Sitting with a current 8-10 overall record and 3-2 in league, the Bulldogs are currently 4^th in the Union Pacific league. This last week they were able to get the win in a close match of 3-2 against Peyton. With only three games left in the regular season, Byers will need to win as many games as possible as they face Limon on 10/19 and 10/28 and Flatirons Academy on 10/24. Top performers so far this season are Hope Linnebur with 39 total blocks, Sophie Linnebur with 43 serving aces, Annette Earl with 247 digs, and Maci Olsen with 248 assists.

Bishop Machebeuf

Bishop Machebeuf are 8-8 on the season with a 5-3 league record and are 5^th in the Mile High League.

Their last home game saw a win against Union Colony Prep 3-0. With only 3 games left, the Buffaloes will face Dayspring Christian Academy on 10/19, Denver Christian on 10/24, and Highland on 10/26. Top players for Bishop Machebeuf are Katie Nichols with 22 total blocks, Hope Chavez with 22 serving aces, Leslie Villegas with 116 digs, Pilar Chavez with 76 assists, and Lucia Mikita with 66 kills.

St. Marry’s

The Pirates are currently sitting with a 9-8 overall record and 6- 4 in league play. This leaves St. Mary’s to sit currently in 4^th in the Tri-peaks league. They suffered a loss last week against Colorado Springs and will be looking to win their last 5 scheduled games against The Vanguard School on 10/19, Salida on 10/24, Thomas MacLaren School on 10/28, Peyton on 10/28 and Elizabeth on 10/28, to ensure a safe buffer from the playoff cutoff. Top stat leaders for the Pirates are Maeve Salveson with 15 total blocks and 115 kills, Leah Flanignan with 39 serving aces, and Laurel Barton with 238 digs, and 180 assists.

Del Norte

Del Norte sits currently as the 3^rd place in the Southern Peaks League with a 5-2 league record and a 9 -11 season record. The Tigers lost last week to Rye 3-1, and will be looking to win their remaining two games in the regular season against Swink on 10/20 and Walsenburg on 10/27. Top players for Del Norte are Hadley Leggett with 16 total blocks, Kailee Gallegos with 36 serving aces and 346 assists, Kaitlyn Velasquez with 222 digs, and Reese Brown with 134 Kills.

Wray

The Eagles are 7-13 overall with a 1-5 league record and are 7^th in the Lower Platte League. They won several games last week against Peetz(3-0), Caliche (3-2), Flatirons Academy (3-0) and Akron (3-0) after a loss to Yuma 1-3. With only three games left in the regular season, it is important that Wray wins to keep themselves in the playoff bubble. These games will be against Burlington on 10/20, Caliche on 10/24, and Wiggins on 10/27. Top players for Wray are Caroline Weber with 20 total blocks and Dori Saffer with 39 serving aces. 266 digs, 281 assists, and 174 kills.

Clear Creek

Clear Creek is 7^th in the Mile High League with a 4-5 league record and are 8-7 overall. The Golddiggers won an important game last week against Gilpin County 3-2. They have two scheduled games left against Dawson School on 10/18 and Heritage Christian on 10/23 where wins will help them remain in the playoff bubble. Team leaders are Kambrey Martin with 23 total blocks, Elliot Dunbar with 42 serving aces, Trinity Cale with 209 digs and 148 kills, and Kiera Ginter with 146 assists.

Peyton

Peyton currently sits with a 9-9 overall record, 2^nd in the Black Forest League and a 3-1 league record. The Panthers lost last week to Byers 2-3 which snapped a 3 game win streak. They have four games left on their schedule, and as the second to last team to be currently in the playoff bubble, wins are more important now then ever. Peyton will face Evangel Christian Academy on 10/27, Eliabeth on 10/28, St. Mary’s on 10/28, and Thomas MacLaren School on 10/28. Stat leaders for the Panthers are Sammie Nickell with 15 total blocks, Abbie Nickell with 46 serving aces and 407 assists, Tahjyanna McFall with 285 digs, and Savannah Kelley with 162 kills.

Olathe

The Pirates are currently 7^th in the Western Slope league, and despite a 6 game losing streak, they are 5-5 in league play and 7-9 overall. These losses include North Fork and Rangely who they lost to last week 3-2 and 3-1 respectively. They have five games left this season and as the last team to be inside of the playoff bubble, every single game is more and more important. They will be facing Caprock Academy on 10/18, Meeker on 10/20, De Beque on 10/21, Roaring Fork on 10/24, and Hayden on 10/28. Stat leaders for the Pirates are Sienna McCall with 30 total blocks, Kiandra Liles with 36 serving aces and 161 assists, Sadie Shea with 243 digs and 100 kills.

Grand Valley

Grand Valley is 9^th in the Western Slope league with a 5-6 league record and 6-10 overall. The Cardinals snapped a 4 game loss streak last week and beat North Fork 3-0. They have 4 games left on the schedule and will face Cedaredge on 10/19, North Park on 10/20, Plateau Valley on 10/24, and West Grand on 10/28. Currently Grand Valley is the first team outside of the playoff bubble and will be looking for wins and other teams to stumble to squeeze into that bubble. Top Players for the Cardinals are Chloe Gronewoller with 76 total blocks, Jaycee Pittman with 36 serving aces and 102 kills, Jocelyn Barragan with 280 digs, and Kaylae Medina with 161 assists.

Telluride

Currently 4-4 in league play, in 4^th place in the San Juan Basin League and 8-10 overall, Telluride is the second team to be outside of the playoff bubble. Their last two losses came last week against Gunnison and Mancos both 0-3. The Miners have three games left that are all must-wins so they can hope to jump someone and get inside of the playoff bubble. These games will be against Dolores on 10/19, Norwood on 10/26 and Ignacio on 10/28.

Vail Mountain

Vail Mountain has a 6-11 overall record and are 4-6 in league play and are 11^th in the Western Slope League. They suffered a loss to Meeker last week 1-3 that broke their three game win streak. With four games remaining in the regular season, they need all wins and hope for other teams to drop their RPI to make it into the playoff bubble. The last games will be against Cedaredge on 10/20, North Fork on 10/21, Caprock Academy on 10/25, and North Park on 10/28.

North Fork

North fork currently has a 5-6 league record, are 7-11 overall, and are 10^th in the Western Slope League and are number 40 in the seeding index. They lost to Grand Valley with last week 0-3 that broke their three game win streak against Olathe, Moffat County and Soroco. The Miners have four games left this season against Gunnison on 10/20, Vail Mountain on 10/21, Vail Christian on 10/24, and North Park on 10/27. Stat leaders for North Fork are Sidney Neff with 28 total blocks, Raney Moore with 42 serving aces, 219 digs and 144 kills, and Madison Nelson with 361 assists.

Las Animas

The Trojans are currently 5^th in the Santa Fe League with a 7-6 league record and 10-11 overall. They beat Rocky Ford this last week 3-1 and will be looking to win their remaining two games of the season against Sierra Grande on 10/21 and Springfield on 10/27. Top plater for Las Animas are Jadann Eck with 38 total blocks, Jesslyn Hogue with 44 serving aces, Chanel LaBarge with 115 digs and 123 assists, and Emma Netherton with 138 kills.

Top 10 teams:

Wiggins – 15-2 overall, 3^rd in the Lower Platte League with a 5-1 league record

Sedgwick County – 15-2 overall, 4^th in the Lower Platte League with a 4-2 league record

Rye – 16-2 overall, 1^st in the Santa Fe League and an 11-1 league record.

Mancos – 17-1 overall record, 1^st in the San Juan Basin League and an 11-0 league record.

Front Range Christian – 18-2 overall record, 1^st in the Mile High League with an 8-0 league record.

Vail Christian – 12-2 overall record, 1^st in thew Western Slope League with a 10-0 league record.

Plateau Valley –  15-2 overall record, 3^rd in the Western Slope league with a 10-2 league record.

Fowler – 13-4 overall record, 2^nd in the Santa Fe League and 10-2 league record.

Hoehne –  14-6 overall record, 3^rd in the Santa Fe League and a 9-2 league record.

Meeker – 13-5 overall record, 2^nd in the Western Slope League with a 12-1 league record.