CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
As the season nears the midpoint, there are tons of key match-ups still on the docket. The first part of the week sees a number of important contests in Class 1A, with most of the top-10 teams in the most recent MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches poll being in action.
TUESDAY
#1 MERINO (6-0) AT #6 WELDON VALLEY (4-4)
It’s been a full week since top-ranked Merino improved to 2-0 in LPAA play with a sweep of 2A Wray. The Lady Rams have not played since that victory. Weldon Valley downed Prairie on Monday to get its second North Central league victory after sweeping Peetz last Friday.
#4 MCCLAVE (6-3) VS KIT CARSON (1-7)
With a 3-0 loss to 2A #2 Simla last Saturday, McClave has dropped two of its last three overall. The Lady Cardinals are 2-0 in High Plains play and have a very good chance to remain unbeaten in the league when they host Kit Carson, who has dropped seven straight. Last week, the Lady Wildcats lost to Springfield and Genoa-Hugo/Karval, both in sweeps. McClave has won the last two meetings in the series after Kit Carson had won 17 consecutive match-ups.
#7 HI-PLAINS (5-2) AT 2A WRAY (6-4)
Hi-Plains tacked on wins against 2A Limon in four and Flagler in three last week, sending the Lady Patriots into this week on a four-match winning streak. Freshman Cambria Seaman tallied at total of 27 kills in those two matches, while senior Dejah Haymore had 18. Wray won all four matches in its own tournament last Saturday. The Lady Eagles won eight of 10 sets during the tourney.
#9 OTIS (4-3) VS BETHUNE (6-6)
Otis got back in the win column with a sweep of Arickaree/Woodlin last Friday. Madelyn Willeke was a strong force at the net, recording 11 kills and six total digs. She added 14 digs. Bethune got three wins over the weekend at its annual tournament, with Jamie Strobel putting down a total of 37 kills. Madi Powell added 22. Otis has won all 22 meetings in the MaxPreps era (2007-current), and has not lost a set in the last 21 of those matches.
#10 CHERAW (3-1) AT 2A LAS ANIMAS (2-5)
Cheraw is on a three-match winning streak after outlasting Granada in five sets on Friday and taking a four-set win over Sangre de Cristo on Saturday. The Lady Wolverines lost the first set against Sangre and then won the last three to keep their winning streak alive. Las Animas is just 2-2 in the last four outings, with a sweep loss to Holly last Tuesday.
MILE HIGH ACADEMY (4-2) AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN LUTHERAN (3-9)
Mile High Academy has a share of the lead in the 5280, with the Lady Mustangs tied atop the standings with Denver Waldorf. Rocky Mountain Lutheran in a game back in third. Mile High Academy enters on a four-match winning streak, while the Lady Eagles have won their last three.
WEDNESDAY
#5 FLEMING (5-2) VS PEETZ (1-7)
Fleming pushed its winning streak to two with a sweep of Briggsdale last Thursday. Ashley Bornhoft (17) and Quincy Stull (10) combined for 27 kills in that match. Ciana Lousberg led with 23 assists and Hayley Chamberlain added 14. Peetz got its first win of the season by sweeping Front Range Baptist last Tuesday, but the Lady Bulldogs were then swept by Prairie and Weldon Valley later in the week. Fleming has won all 39 meetings with the Lady Bulldogs in the MaxPreps era and has only lost one set in the process.
PLATEAU VALLEY (5-5) AT DE BEQUE (5-5)
Plateau Valley has overcome a slow start to the season, winning its last four matches. Three of those came last week, as the Cowgirls beat North Fork in five, North Park and Norwood both in three. Emaline Ealey had a total of 41 kills in those three wins. De Beque won three of four at the Wray tournament last Saturday, losing to the hosts, and then beating Pikes Peak Christian, Denver Waldorf, and Calhan. Ava Vines tallied 43 kills in the tourney. Both teams are in the middle of the pack in the Western Slope and need to string together some league victories to push the top teams.
THURSDAY
#4 MCCLAVE (6-3) AT WALSH (6-6)
A nice run at the Tribune (KS) tournament two weekends ago pushed Walsh over .500 on the season. The Lady Eagles then lost to Springfield in four and Cheyenne Wells in five last week. Emily Hume has 145 kills on the year, more than the next four Lady Eagles combined.
#5 FLEMING (5-2) VS #6 WELDON VALLEY (4-4)
The winner of this contest has the inside track to claiming the NCL title. They have played 54 times since the start of the 2007 season. Fleming holds a 42-12 edge, but Weldon Valley won twice last year.
#8 SARGENT (8-0) AT SANGRE DE CRISTO (6-5)
Sargent holds a slim lead in the Southern Peaks, with the Lady Farmers 2-0 in league play and Sangre owning a 1-0 mark. Centennial is also 1-0 in the league. The Lady Farmers, who have not played in almost two weeks, have not lost a set all season. The loss to Cheraw snapped a five-match winning streak for Sangre de Cristo. The teams have split the last 10 meetings evenly, with including each winning once last year. Sargent took the most recent match-up.
GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (5-2) VS 2A #7 BURLINGTON (6-1)
The Lady Pirates have won three straight since losing their Union Pacific opener to #2 Stratton. Burlington had its six-match winning streak snapped at 2A #1 Sedgwick County on Saturday. It’s the first league contest for the Lady Cougars.
GRANADA (4-2) VS 2A #6 SWINK (6-2)
Granada’s winning streak was snapped last Friday with the five-set loss to Cheraw. None of the sets were decided by more than four points and two went to extras. Paula Aguirre had 10 kills to lead the Lady Bobcats. Swink rode a five-match winning streak into the week, all by sweeps.
PRIMERO (12-1) VS COTOPAXI (2-7)
Primero suffered its first loss of the season at La Veta last Friday, but bounced back to defeat Des Moines (NM) in five the following day. Cotopaxi has lost its last five, all in sweeps.
MileHigh Prep Report 