CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL WEEKEND PREVIEW
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Another weekend is here and with it comes a number of big match-ups involving top-ten teams. As we do early in the season, the rankings come from the MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches poll.
FRIDAY
#2 STRATTON (3-0) VS CALICHE (2-4)
It’s been more than a week since Stratton last saw the court, when the Lady Eagles swept Genoa-Hugo/Karval last Thursday. Sophie Isenbart had 14 kills in that match and is averaging almost four per set on the season. Clare Miltenberger had 27 assists, giving her 79 in just three matches. She had 18 in her first three seasons. Caliche dropped a four-setter to 2A Haxtun on Tuesday, but got 10 kills from Alexis Breidenbach, nine from Ryann Svoboda, and eight from Hailey Sommerfeld.
#6 WELDON VALLEY (2-4) VS PEETZ (0-6)
It’s been a rough week off the court for the Lady Warriors and the Weldona community with the tragic passing of the father of a player late last week. They got back to a small sense of normalcy by returning to the court on Tuesday when they visited 2A #3 Wiggins. Wiggins got the sweep victory, but the outcome wasn’t as important as two neighboring communities coming together to heal. Peetz has yet to crack the win column as Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Prairie was the sixth straight sweep loss of the season for the Lady Bulldogs.
#9 OTIS (3-3) AT ARICKAREE/WOODLIN (7-6)
Otis has had a full week to sort through its loss to #7 Hi-Plains last week and the Lady Bulldogs will take on another YWKC squad they have dominated over the years, looking to avoid a repeat of last week’s loss. Otis has won 31 straight over Arickaree, Arickaree/Woodlin, and Woodlin in the MaxPreps era (2007-current) and has only lost five sets total in that span. Madelyn Willeke has 69 kills so far this season to lead the way. Arickaree/Woodlin started the season 6-0 but is just 1-6 since. That includes four straight losses, the last two coming last weekend to 2A Wray and 2A Burlington.
#10T CHERAW (1-1) AT GRANADA (4-1)
Cheraw hasn’t played since sweeping La Veta last Thursday and this is already the second High Plains league match for the Lady Wolverines. With a loss to #4 McClave on the record, they can’t afford another league loss this early in the season if they have any hopes of staying in the race. Delaney Bond and Kieran Harris both average more than four digs per set, with 31 and 30 total, respectively. It’s the league opener for Granada as part of the Homecoming festivities. The Lady Bobcats have won two straight, but haven’t played in almost a week. Kinsley Williams is having an interesting start to the season, leading the Lady Bobcats with 82 assists and sitting second in kills with 33, only two off the lead. Emersen Hernandez sits atop that category.
PRIMERO (11-0) AT LA VETA (5-2)
It’s hard to believe that less than a full month into the season, a league champion could be crowned on Friday. Primero, winner of 26 of 27 sets so far, already owns a Fishers Peak victory over Manzanola and with only three teams in the league, a win over La Veta gives the Lady Bulldogs the title. Jaleysia Atkins (63) and Isabela Maldonado (59) have combined for 122 kills this season. The Lady Redhawks have won four of their last five matches, including a sweep of Kiowa last Friday. They don’t play Manzanola until the end of the regular season, so a win in this match means the league isn’t decided for another six weeks. Marianna Delacruz already has 143 assists to her credit.
PRAIRIE (5-1) AT BRIGGSDALE (2-4)
This is one of those match-ups that will help decide who wins the North Central championship. Briggsdale was swept by #5 Fleming on Thursday, and can ill afford another league loss. The Lady Falcons have been swept in their last three matches overall. Prairie has won its last four, including a sweep of Peetz on Thursday. A fun side note in this match-up is the Lady Mustangs are coached by Courtney (Krise) Cacciola, a former Lady Falcon.
SATURDAY
#4 MCCLAVE (6-2) VS 2A #2 SIMLA (7-0)
McClave bounced back from a tough five-set loss at #3 Idalia last Saturday to sweep #10T Cheyenne Wells on Tuesday. The Lady Cardinals won all three sets by 25-15 scores to improve to 2-0 in High Plains play. Simla was scheduled to play #1 Merino last Saturday in a rematch of last year’s 1A state title match, but that was postponed due to the tragic passing of a recent Simla graduate. The Lady Cubs got back on the court Thursday and swept Dolores Huerta Prep.
#10T CHEYENNE WELLS (3-4) VS WALSH (6-5)
It’s Homecoming for the Lady Tigers and they’re hoping some home cooking will get their season turned back around after dropping four of their last five. Three of those losses were to top-four teams, all in sweeps. They have five players with 25 to 47 kills on the season, led by Savannah Worley. After winning six matches in each of the last two seasons, Walsh has already hit that win total with a month and a half left to play. The Lady Eagles fell to 1-2 in the Arkansas Valley league with a four-set loss at Springfield on Thursday. The first three sets all went extras and the fourth was decided by six points. Emily Hume had 14 kills in the loss, giving her a career-high 145 on the season. She needs 75 for 500.
#7 HI-PLAINS (4-2) VS FLAGLER (3-2)
Not that long ago, these two schools were part of an athletic co-op. Now, they’re back to being opponents. Hi-Plains has won three straight with a four-set victory over 2A Limon on Tuesday. Freshman Cambria Seaman put away 18 kills and senior Dejah Haymore added 10 in the win. It was 10 years and a day after the last Lady Patriots’ victory over the Lady Badgers. Flagler’s wait to get back on the court may have felt that long, but Thursday’s five-set loss to Evangel Christian was only two week’s from the last appearance by the Lady Panthers.
BETHUNE INVITATIONAL
Bethune (3-5) hosts its annual tournament after pushing a ranked 2A Burlington to four-sets on Tuesday, eventually dropping its third straight match. South Baca (2-2), Sierra Grande (2-6), and Holly (3-4) complete the round robin field.
WRAY TOURNAMENT
Along with the 2A hosts, the Wray (2-4) tournament field will include De Beque (2-4), Denver Waldorf (0-1), Pikes Peak Christian (5-3), and Calhan (5-2). It’s a round robin format, with each team getting four matches.
MONDAY
#6 WELDON VALLEY (2-4) AT PRAIRIE (5-1)
The winner of this one keeps its NCL title hopes alive. Both still have #5 Fleming on their schedule. It looks like another knock-down, drag-out season in the North Central, with four teams slugging it out on a regular basis.
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