CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON PREVIEW

CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON PREVIEW

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

Class 3A volleyball has been a very interesting study lately, with the Patriot League having won 12 of the last 13 state titles, including the last five, but there has not been a back-to-back winner since 2017. That was the year that Eaton won the last of five consecutive crowns. The Lady Reds also own a championship in the current run of winners from the league. Sterling, University (now in 4A), Platte Valley, and Resurrection Christian own the other four. The biggest question entering this season is if the dominance of the Patriot will continue, or is this the year that a new challenger emerges.

CITY

Most of the teams in the new City League were members of the former Confluence, a mixed 2A/3A conference. DSST: Conservatory Green (19-5) won that league last year, but the Lady Hornets were bounced in the regional round. They bring back four of the top four hitters from last season, including Caden Cope, who was just short of 200 kills. With Leah Torres (293 digs), Reisa Martin (280), Cope (221), and Mia Martin (112), the Lady Hornets return their top four in digs from a year ago. Mia Martin was also their primary setter as a freshman, racking up just over 200 assists.

Leading the charge to unseat the Lady Hornets atop the league is DSST: College View (19-6), whose only loss in the Confluence last year came against DSST: CG. The Lady Wolves lost last year’s top hitter, blocker, and setter, but do return Lesli Chavez, who led them with 249 digs. Paulina Cantu (51 kills) and Trinity Covarrubias (43 kills) were second and fourth on the team on the attack.

DSST: Cedar (6-16), Rocky Mountain Prep-SMART (8-13), and DSST: Green Valley Ranch (8-9) all finished in the middle of the pack last year. Of the three, only DSST: GVR report complete stats last season. The Lady Raptors had five underclassmen lead their attack, with Jerzey Jacobus (47) and Elizabeth Mafi (41) as the only two with more than 40 kills. Mariana Rujana (92) and Mariam Qasemi (71) directed the offense and had all but 17 of the team’s assists.

Three teams from the Frontier League also help make up the new league, with DSST: Montview (14-11), KIPP Denver Collegiate (8-13), and Bruce Randolph (0-20) being shifted. DSST: Montview finished third in the Frontier, but the Lady Knights lost four of their top five hitters to graduation. The lone returnee from that group is Sofia Mitchell, who was third with 82 kills. Aaliyah Rankin will also be back after tallying 365 assists.

Kennedy (3-20) comes in from the Denver Prep League, and Manual (3-20) rounds out the league after calling the Metro home last season.

CSML NORTH

Only two of the six teams in the CSML North are in 3A, with the remaining squads making up the 4A side of things. The Classical Academy (24-5) won the league title last year, playing in Class 4A, and made the state tournament. The Lady Titans went 3-2 at state. The team lost Lillian Edwards (356 kills) to The Village, but Ashley Delaney (122 kills) will give them a strong first option, and they will have Avery Jaeger back to direct the attack after recording 591 assists as a sophomore. Bella Klaus (234) and Maleah Ragsdale (158) were two of the top three in digs as juniors.

Mitchell (10-13) finished fourth last year and will have to replace eight seniors off the roster.

FOOTHILLS

The remaining teams from the former Confluence are now part of a mixed 2A/3A Foothills League. STEM School Highlands Ranch (13-9), William Smith (3-14), and Aurora West College Prep Academy (2-12) are the only 3A squads in this new league, and fellow Confluence member, Addenbroke Classical Academy is one of the 2A programs.

Of the trio, STEM School Highlands Ranch would appear to have the best shot at making the postseason. Kylie Pautler (149) and Auburne Mauger (134) combined for more than 280 kills as juniors when they led the Lady Spartans. Sera Close will be back to set for the duo after registering 329 assists last year. In fact, the Lady Spartans did not lose a single player off last year’s roster to graduation.

FRONTIER

The Frontier League spans three classifications, from 2A through 4A. Five of the teams are in 3A, including last year’s runner-up in the conference, Bennett (14-11). Leading the charge this year are a trio of seniors who were the top three hitters for the Lady Tigers last season. Jessica Venneberg led the pack with 181 kills, while Elizabeth Westendorf was hot on her heels with 176. Olivia Schroeder just missed triple digits, finishing with 97. Bennett employed two setters last year and will return one, Raquel Thorpe, who led the squad with 301 assists.

Middle Park (14-9) was in the mix atop the league standings, but finished fifth at the end of the season. Karla Diaz racked up more than 500 assists last year and the senior will have her top four hitters back for this season. Peyton Fosha (220), Alana Krueger (139), Dana Bell (100), and Violet Barr (85) will give the Lady Panthers plenty of options in the attack. Middle Park also brings back the top nine in digs.

Arrupe Jesuit (12-11) could also be in he mix this season after finishing sixth a year ago. The Lady Generals lost their top hitter, but bring back a talented group that is headed up by Arelly Diaz, who had 67 kills last year. Also returning is setter Alexia Perea, who had 210 assists, while also leading the team with 144 digs. Monse Perea was second as a freshman with 125 digs.

Jefferson and Englewood had identical 4-15 records last year and could have trouble keeping up with the top teams in the league again this year.

INDEPENDENT

The only independent in the classification this season is a new Colorado Springs based program, The Village. As noted earlier, Lillian Edwards joined the program, leaving The Classical Academy, and is one of the big reasons the Lady Mountaineers were ranked in the preseason top-10 in the CHSAANow.com coaches poll. If The Village ends the regular season ranked high enough in the Selection and Seeding Index, it can collect a postseason berth.

INTERMOUNTAIN

Just five teams call the Intermountain home, but all have made their mark over the years. Centauri (20-8) won the league last year and advanced to the state tournament, but ended with a 2-2 mark at the event. Hannah Curtis (246) and Joselyn McCarroll (154) give the Lady Falcons a duo that combined for 400 kills during that run last year. They will be receiving sets from someone new after the top four in assists graduated. Curtis was third on the team with 264 digs, and that number will likely climb this season.

Alamosa (17-8) split the regular season series with Centauri last year, but lost the tiebreaker because of sets won in the two meetings. The Lady Mean Moose did not have a senior on the roster and 10 of the 14 were either freshmen or sophomores. Laci Christensen (259) and Aubrey Rothermich (251) led the attack as sophomores, while Morgan Ortega (707 assists) and Taybor Wiedeman (360 digs) topped the squad in their respective categories as juniors. Addison Rice wasn’t far behind in digs, recording 347 in her freshman campaign.

Bayfield (6-17), Pagosa Springs (10-15), and Montezuma-Cortez (3-20) all struggled through losing seasons.

JEFFCO

The mixed Jeffco is heavy on the 4A side this season, with D’Evelyn (12-13) being the only 3A representative. The Lady Jaguars dropped a classification after finishing third in the league last year. No one on this year’s roster had even 20 kills last season, as the team lost its top five hitters. Jacqui Laraway is the leading returnee with 16. Setter could be an interesting situation, as the Lady Jags don’t have anyone who recorded more than one assist last year.

METRO

While most of the mixed classification leagues have been heavier on the 2A or 4A side, the Metro sees 10 of the 11 teams residing in 3A. Kent Denver (22-3) won the league last year with an unbeaten run through the opposition. The Lady Sun Devils came up one win short of making it to state, dropping their regional final in five sets to Valley. The duo of Elsie Beck (173 kills) and Austin Duncan (111 kills) will try to lead the team to the next step. With setter Kinaree Eichner and her 440 assists back, Kent Denver should be right near the top of the Metro again this season.

Jefferson Academy (23-4) had one league loss last year, a four-setter to Kent Denver. The Lady Jaguars advanced to state before going 0-2. A lot will fall on the shoulders of Monica Slusser, who enters the season as the team’s top returning hitter (173 kills) and second-leading defender (169 digs). She’ll get help from Aubrey Nelson (222 digs) and Alison Smith (104 kills).

Peak to Peak (14-11), Forge Christian (13-12), Prospect Ridge Academy (17-8), and St. Mary’s Academy (15-10) were all tightly packed behind the two league leaders. Peak to Peak returns Alexandra Eschmeyer (154 kills) and Sydney Lewis (294 assists) from a squad that lost in the regional final. Forge Christian also made a regional final and brings back Addison Davis (131 kills, 181 digs) and Abby Nance (455 assists).

Prospect Ridge Academy went 1-1 in regionals, keeping the Lady Miners from making the state tournament bracket. Brook Luhman is the top returning option in the attack after recording 86 kills in her sophomore season. Natalie Rooks (416 assists) and Genevieve Forsman (163 digs) create a top trio for the Lady Miners. St. Mary’s Academy fell in a regional final but returns Vera Porter (124 kills), Ellen Porter (86 kills), and Addison Rosales (453 assists, 132 digs).

MILE HIGH

The lone 3A member of the 1A/2A/3A Mile High is Estes Park (2-21), who dropped out of the Patriot League. The Lady Bobcats are looking for their first winning season in the MaxPreps era, which dates back to the 2007 season. That year saw the program finish 10-11, which is the high-water mark during the stretch.

The Lady Bobcats lost one senior to graduation, so they will bring back a very experienced squad. That includes Hanna Cousineau (226 assists), Madison Fraley (114 kills, 103 digs), and Olivia Boynton (88 kills, 101 digs).

PATRIOT

Seven of the 12 teams that made up the 3A state tournament field last year came from the Patriot and four made the semifinals, including champion Resurrection Christian (22-9), who had finished fifth in the league. Two of the seven (University, Timnath) have relocated to 4A, but there is still plenty of depth in the conference.

A head-to-head win over Eaton (21-7) gave Platte Valley (22-6) the league title in a tiebreaker. The Lady Broncos made it to the semifinals before being upset by Resurrection Christian in a sweep. They’ll have their top four hitters, who will all be seniors, back from that squad. Karsyn Fetzer (398 kills) leads that deep group, which also includes Hayden Hanes (243), Makenzie Piper (107), and Lauryn Uyemura (98). Fetzer, Hanes, and Uyemura combined for more than 860 digs, and Uyemura added 865 assists.

Eaton also fell in the semifinals, as University avenged a sweep loss in the regular season to oust the Lady Fightin’ Reds in five. Annabelle Dejager (380) and Madeline Smith (187) were tops in kills last season and return to lead the attack. Dejager’s 347 digs were second to Evie Gavette‘s 383, and both are back. Gavette could step in at setter, after Eaton lost more than 940 assists to graduation. She had 36.

Liberty Common (22-7) was third behind the top two in the league, only losing to them. The Lady Eagles bowed out in the third round of the contenders bracket at state, where they were eliminated by the eventual champions. Unlike the other two top finishers, the Lady Eagles lost four of their top five hitters, returning only Kaija Fullerton, who had 101 kills as a freshman. Liberty Common had six players with at least 100 digs, but only Eliana Macy (156) returns. Macy also brings experience at the setter position after recording 404 assists.

Resurrection Christian had to work its way through the contenders bracket to win the state title last year and the Lady Cougars return three of six players who recorded at least 150 kills on the season. Hannah Roalstad (170), Emmaline Morris (152), and Kaylynn Pardue (152) will be a tough trio to contend with on a regular basis. Finding a consistent setter will be a big key, as no one on the roster had more than 20 last season.

Sixth place Sterling (15-10) nearly gave the league two-thirds of the state bracket, but the Lady Tigers fell to Centauri in the regional finals. Ady Santomaso shared the team lead with 200 kills and she’ll be joined by Kashley Sheets (101) to form a tough 1-2 punch. That duo, plus Tyla Thomas, brings back more than 900 digs. Shayleigh Ulrich, who also had more than 150 digs, tallied 621 assists.

Valley (15-13) pulled off an upset of #5 seeded Timnath in the opening round of state last year, but the Lady Vikings could not follow up that five-set win, as they fell in five and again in four to end their season. Nevaeh Jimenez (324), Kendyll Mayhugh (148), and Brianna Orona-Aguilar (103) all return after putting up triple digit kills. Jimenez recorded a triple-triple, adding 374 digs and 283 assists. Laurissa Richards tacked on 257 digs as a freshman.

After spending the last cycle in the 2A Union Pacific, Strasburg (21-8) makes a return to the Patriot. The Lady Indians made the 2A state bracket and lost twice to Burlington in five sets, the second of which came in the contenders third round, eliminating them. Natalie Damron (292 kills), Peighton Marrero (201), and Hannah Damron (90) are back to lead the attack. Marrero put up that impressive tally while also racking up 611 assists and 293 digs.

TRI-PEAKS

Lamar (20-8) and Colorado Springs Christian (21-6) both made the state field last year, but they combined to go 1-4 with the lone win coming from the Lady Thunder in the first round of the contenders bracket. Those two teams split the league title with James Irwin (18-7) who lost in the regional finals.

Lamar brings back Brooklyn Robbins, who was second in all of Colorado last year with 573 kills. She’s joined by Addy Krug (137) and Tatum Milenski (98), forming a very strong trio at the net. Robbins also led the Lady Thunder with 325 digs. Milenski directed the show last season with 876 assists.

The Lady Jaguars of James Irwin lost their top two hitters and five of their top seven, but will return Aubrey Fieth (134 kills) and Miranda Hamilton (89). Fieth was one dig off the team lead with 213, and is one of the top returnees with 10 assists. Alyssa Flores is tops with 11.

Salida (15-10), The Vanguard School (17-8), St. Mary’s (14-13), and Florence (12-11) all finished with winning records. St. Mary’s made it to state, but went 0-2. Salida and The Vanguard both went 0-2 in regionals. St. Mary’s and CSCS both dropped to the 2A side of the league this cycle.

WESTERN SLOPE

Delta won the league last year and made it to state before going 1-2 and falling to eventual runner-up University in the contenders third round. The Lady Panthers have been pushed up to 4A in the latest round of reclassification, creating an opening for someone else to take the top spot this year.

Aspen (13-11) might be that team, after the Lady Skiers finished second to Delta last season. They reached regionals, but went 0-2 to end their season. Complete stats were not available from last year, but the Lady Skiers did lose five seniors who were big contributors.

Gunnison (21-4) shared second place with Aspen and Rifle, with each going 5-2 in league play. A tough five-set loss (led 2-1) to CSCS in the regional final kept the Cowgirls from advancing to state. Sienna Gomez (179) and Amara Lock (127) combined for more than 300 kills last season, but Gomez could be asked to fill the setter’s role after recording 258 assists as their #2 in the position. The now senior showed her all-around skill set by also tallying close to 300 digs.

No other team in the league had a winning overall record. Olathe (11-12) came within a win of reaching .500 while playing in the 1A/2A Western Slope.