CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL EARLY WEEK PREVIEW – AUG.27TH-29TH
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The new volleyball season got started late last week and the schedule really picks up this week. As we did last year, we’ll be breaking up the weekly previews into early week (Tuesday-Thursday) and weekend (Friday-Monday). We’ll take a look at some of the top match-ups across the state and discuss what’s at stake in each. All rankings come from the MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches Poll.
TUESDAY
#1 Merino vs Peetz
Merino starts the pursuit of its fifth consecutive state title at home against Peetz. Brooklyn Sutter enters the match just 43 assists shy of 3000 for her career. She’s averaging close to 11 per set in her first three years, so there’s a shot of it happening in this contest, but will more likely happen later this week. Peetz is coming off a two-win season last year, and the Lady Bulldogs have not won more than that since 2015 (four wins). There’s no seniors on the roster of 16, one of the best turnouts for the program in a decade.
#2 McClave vs #7 Cheraw
McClave went 2-1 at the Wiggins tournament last weekend, beating 3A #8 Valley in three, losing to 2A #3 Wiggins in two, and topping #6 Weldon Valley in three. It’s the opener for Cheraw, who looks to return to state behind senior Delaney Bond, who begins the season with 640 career kills. The winner claims an early lead in the High Plains.
#4 Otis at 2A Wray
Otis has been a regular at the state tournament for two decades and the Lady Bulldogs are expected to be there again this year. Maddie Willeke’s strong net play, both hitting and blocking, makes them one of the favorites in the YWKC, along with Idalia, but they open with this non-league match-up against a 2A foe. Wray took a five-set victory over Lone Star last week, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to win the fifth 15-13. Mariah Deland led everyone with 19 kills for the Lady Eagles.
#6 Weldon Valley vs 2A #1 Sedgwick County
Coming off the Wiggins tournament, in which they went 1-2, the Lady Warriors face another stiff challenge in the top-ranked 2A squad. Sedgwick County swept Briggsdale and Haxtun last weekend.
OUTSIDE THE TOP-10
Bethune at Arickaree/Woodlin
Arickaree/Woodlin went 5-0 at the Hanover tournament, including a win over Bethune, who finished 3-2. This is the YWKC league opener for both.
Kim/Branson at Springfield
Kim/Branson was swept by Walsh on Saturday, while Springfield dropped a pair of five-setters last week, to South Baca and Eads. Each has a loss in the Arkansas Valley, so the loser falls two off the pace.
Dove Creek at 2A Mancos
Dove Creek went 2-1 in the Rangely tournament over the weekend, picking up an impressive win over Plateau Valley. The winner of tonight’s match gets an early share of the lead in the San Juan Basin.
La Veta at 2A Hoehne
Both teams had solid opening weekends, with La Veta going 2-1 with the lone loss coming against 2A Del Norte. Hoehne took three out of four last week, with its only loss being at the hands of #10 Sargent.
Eads at Genoa-Hugo/Karval
Along with the five-set victory over Springfield, Eads also took a four-set win over Evangel Christian Academy. Kara Wilson and Anna Wollert both piled up 23 kills over the weekend, while Tailee Weeks-Johnson had 19. It’s the season-opener for the Lady Pirates.
THURSDAY
#2 McClave at 2A 7 Swink
It’s another big match for the Lady Cardinals, this time against a ranked 2A Swink. Swink lost its opener in five sets to 2A #6 Fowler last Thursday. Emma Gacnik (12) and Taylor Medenhall (11) combined for 23 kills in the defeat.
#5 Idalia vs Prairie
Idalia swept 2A Holyoke on the road last Saturday, while Prairie did the same to Union Colony Prep last Thursday. The winner stays unbeaten and picks up some big points in the Selection and Seeding Index.
#9 Cheyenne Wells at South Baca
Serenity Worley (9) and Savannah Worley (8) combined for 17 kills in the Cheyenne Wells sweep of 2A Las Animas last week. South Baca dropped the first and fourth sets against Springfield, but prevailed with a 15-11 win in the fifth.
OUTSIDE THE TOP-10
Deer Trail at Flagler
Flagler beat Deer Trail in three sets last week at the Miami-Yoder tournament. This time, the meeting counts in the Union Pacific standings.
Walsh at Primero
Walsh opened the season by taking the first set against Granada before falling in four. The Lady Eagles bounced back to earn the important Arkansas Valley win over Kim/Branson. Primero went unbeaten in the opening weekend, sweeping Sangre de Cristo and then going 4-0 at the Hanover tournament without dropping a set.
Hi-Plains at Granada
This is a meeting of two teams that made the regionals last year for the first time in a long time. Hi-Plains had made the field several times while in the co-op with Flagler, but it was the first appearance for the Lady Patriots on their own since 2015. It was Granada’s first trip in 25 years. Hi-Plains has not played a match yet, but Granada is 2-0, adding a sweep of Holly to the four-set victory over Walsh. Kinsley Williams led the Lady Bobcats with 14 assists and nine kills in the win over Walsh.
Arickaree/Woodlin at Eads
Depending on how the Tuesday night matches go, both teams could be undefeated going into this match. Both sides have shown strong back row defense through the first weekend of play.
Elbert at Pikes Peak Christian
Elbert dropped its first match of the Hanover tournament to Primero, and then swept its way through the next four matches. PPC went 2-1 at the Miami-Yoder tourney, with the loss coming at the hands of Deer Trail. The winner gets an early edge in the Black Forest.
Walsh at Holly
Walsh can stay undefeated in Ark Valley play and secure the inside track to the league crown with a victory. It’s Holly’s first league tilt, so a win gets the Lady Wildcats a share of the lead.
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