CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL WEEKEND PREVIEW – AUG. 30TH-SEPT. 2ND
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The weekend slate in Class 1A is highlighted by the NJC tournament, featuring a number of highly ranked squads. There are also several of big match-ups across the state. We use the MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches Poll for our rankings.
FRIDAY
EADS LADY EAGLES VS KIM/BRANSON LADY MUSTANGS
Eads moved to 4-0 on the season with a sweep of Arickaree/Woodlin on Thursday, handing the Lady Bison their first loss of the season. Anna Wollert (11), Bailey Sierra (10), and Tailee Weeks-Johnson (10) all had double digit kills in the win. Kim/Branson is looking to get in the win column after getting swept in Ark Valley league play by Springfield on Monday.
LA VETA LADY REDHAWKS AT KIT CARSON LADY WILDCATS
La Veta got a nice four-set win over 2A Hoehne on Tuesday to move to 3-1 on the season. Aspen Autry put down 17 kills and Grace D’esposito added 15. Kit Carson was swept by 2A #9 Burlington on Thursday, but the Lady Wildcats made it tough. Burlington ended up winning the third set 30-28.
WELDON VALLEY LADY WARRIORS AT HI-PLAINS LADY PATRIOTS
This is a rematch of last year’s regional, which Weldon Valley won in four sets. They’re off to a 1-3 start, with losses to McClave, Wiggins, and Sedgwick County. Hi-Plains got a 3-1 win over Granada on Thursday, giving the Lady Bobcats their first loss of the season.
STRATTON LADY EAGLES AT CHEYENNE WELLS LADY TIGERS
Stratton is playing its first match of the season, while this is the third for Cheyenne Wells. The Lady Tigers have not dropped a set after sweeping Las Animas last week and South Baca on Thursday. Aubry Carroll had 14 digs against South Baca.
NJC TOURNAMENT
Idalia, Peetz, and Caliche are tangling with each other on Friday. Idalia enters with the only win between the season after the Lady Wolves swept Holyoke last week and Prairie on Thursday. Peetz lost to Merino earlier in the week, and Caliche fell to Lone Star on Tuesday.
SATURDAY
PRIMERO TOURNAMENT
Primero is hosting their tournament, which also includes Manzanola, Sierra Grande, and Center. Manzanola is still looking to get in the win column after having a rough start at last weekend’s Hanover tournament. Primero is on the other end of the spectrum early in the season after going 6-0 so far. The Lady Bulldogs had won 12 straight sets to begin the season before dropping the second set against Walsh on Thursday. Sierra Grande has not played since dropping two of three in tournament play last Saturday, and Center was 0-1 going into Thursday’s match with Crested Butte.
NJC TOURNAMENT
One pool of the NJC tournament includes Merino, Otis, Haxtun, and Dayspring Christian, while the other has Arickaree/Woodlin, Fleming, and Holyoke. After pool play, the fourth seed from the first group will play Caliche, while the #3 seeds will meet, followed by the 2s, and finally the top seed in each pool will clash for the title. Three of the teams are 1-0 entering the event (Merino, Otis, Fleming), Arickaree/Woodlin is 6-1, and no one else is on the plus side of the ledger.
CRESTED BUTTE TOURNAMENT
Sargent looks to remain unbeaten, entering the Crested Butte tournament at 3-0. Nucla is the only other 1A program in the field, coming in at 2-1. Olathe and the hosts round out the event. Sargent has lived up to the preseason billing, sweeping its way through a tournament last weekend. Nucla’s only loss so far came in a tournament last weekend.
MCCLAVE LADY CARDINALS AT LONE STAR LADY LONGHORNS
One of the few non-tournament matches on the day has the potential to be a very good one. McClave picked up a pair of big wins earlier in the week, beating Cheraw on Tuesday and 2A Swink on Thursday, both in four sets. The only loss for the Lady Cardinals was to 2A Wiggins last weekend in tournament play. Lone bounced back from an opening loss to Wray in five sets to beat Caliche in four.
MileHigh Prep Report 