CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Following a weekend of big tournaments, the top-five teams in this week’s MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches poll for Class 3A remained the same as a week ago. Only one previously ranked team (Centauri) fell out of the rankings, while The Village makes an appearance at #10. Here’s a look at the week ahead for those teams in the rankings.
#1 RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN (2-0)
Of the teams in the top-10, Resurrection Christian has played the fewest matches so far, with only two under the belt. The Lady Cougars got double digit kills from Hannah Roalstad (16), Kaylynn Pardue (15), Emmaline Morris (12), and Mackenzie Francis (11) in a five-set win over 2A #3 Colorado Springs Christian on Saturday. Kylee Mayes racked up 51 assists in the win. The Lady Cougars open Patriot League play on Tuesday against #3 Platte Valley.
#2 EATON (6-0)
Eaton opened its Patriot League slate last Thursday with a sweep of Frontier Academy. The Fightin’ Lady Reds had been pushed to the limit in each of their three previous matches. They lost a total of 26 points in the sweep. Annabelle DeJager and Madi Smith each had seven kills to lead the way. Lila DeJager (9) and Trinity Salberg (8) shared the setting duties. Eaton visits #7 Valley on Tuesday in Patriot play, and travels to Peak to Peak on Thursday.
#3 PLATTE VALLEY (5-1)
Platte Valley won three of four against larger schools in the Lewis-Palmer tournament on Saturday. The lone loss came against the hosts, 2-1. Karsyn Fetzer had 14 kills in that match, and 48 for the tourney. Lauryn Uyemura racked up 37 assists in the tournament, recording just one ball handling error in 97 attempts. Those numbers came in wins over Loveland and Montrose. After the league opener at Resurrection Christian on Tuesday, the Lady Broncos have a non-league clash at Forge Christian on Thursday.
#4 LAMAR (3-0)
The Lady Thunder picked up their second straight sweep victory last Saturday, downing 2A Rye. Brooklyn Robbins hammered 19 kills, giving her 65 in the first three matches of the season. Addy Krug added 11. Tatum Milenski racked up 30 assists and now only needs 18 to reach 1000 in her career. She should hit that milestone on Thursday when the Lady Thunder hosts a winless Liberal (KS).
#5 ALAMOSA (6-2)
It was a week of sweeps for Alamosa, who put down Pueblo County, Pagosa Springs, and Delta without dropping a set. The win over Pagosa put the Lady Mean Moose atop the Intermountain standings. Aubrey Rothermich (11) and Taybor Wiedeman (10) combined for 21 kills in the win, with Morgan Ortega recording 32 assists. Ortega went over 2300 career assists during the week and is just 148 away from 2500. Alamosa hosts Bayfield on Thursday in league play and then a triangular on Saturday with #6 Gunnison and 2A Hoehne.
#6 GUNNISON (7-0)
Gunnison dominated its way through the D’Evelyn tournament last Saturday, winning eight of nine sets played. The only match to go more than two was the final against Bennett. The Cowgirls dropped the opening set of that match, 13-25, but rallied two win the next two and remain unbeaten on the season. Rose Kowal had a team-high 12 digs in that win, and Kathryn Frey added 11. Gunnison will play Alamosa and Centauri in the triangular on Saturday in Alamosa.
#7 VALLEY (4-2)
Valley ran its winning streak to three with a four-set victory over Jefferson Academy last Thursday. Kendyll Mayhugh led the Lady Vikings with 13 kills, most coming off assists from Nevaeh Jimenez, who tallied 24 in the match. Sophomore Laurissa Richards registered a career-high 21 digs. Following Tuesday’s Patriot match with Eaton, the Lady Vikings will travel to 2A #3 Colorado Springs Christian on Thursday.
#8 STERLING (5-0)
Through the first five matches, Sterling is not only 5-0, but also 15-0 in sets played. The Lady Tigers swept Weld Central last Thursday to open Patriot League play, getting 17 digs from Kashley Sheets and 14 apiece from Ady Santomaso and Courtney Canada. That was followed by a sweep of Gering (NE) on Saturday, with Sheets popping up 18 digs and Santomaso recording 13. The Lady Tigers host #9 Strasburg in league play on Tuesday and will head across the border to challenge Scottsbluff (NE) on Thursday.
#9 STRASBURG (5-1)
The Lady Indians had been undefeated on the season until their final match of the Denver Christian tournament last Saturday. Following sweeps of Buena Vista and Denver Christian, they were swept by 2A #1 Sedgwick County. Natalie Damron (18), Emma Middlemist (15), and Peighton Marrero (12) combined for 45 kills in a four-set win over Fort Morgan last Thursday, giving Strasburg its first win in Patriot play. After the big match at Sterling on Tuesday, the Lady Indians will host neighboring 2A Byers on Thursday.
#10 THE VILLAGE (5-2)
Erika Sayer put down nine kills and Lilian Edwards added five in a sweep of Liberty last Monday for The Village. In their first season as a program, the Lady Mountaineers are off to a 5-2 start, carrying a three-match winning streak into the week. Sayer has 75 kills so far, and Edwards has 68. The Village visits Manitou Springs on Tuesday and hosts Sand Creek on Thursday.
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