CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL REPORT by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL REPORT

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

With league play starting to crank up in Class 3A, the focus this week shifts to how each of those leagues looks as of Tuesday. All rankings used are from this week’s MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches poll, as well as the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.

CITY

Four teams are currently 1-0 in league play, with KIPP Denver Collegiate, DSST: College View, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, and DSST: Cedar all sharing the early lead. Of the four, only KIPP Denver (6-2) and DSST: GVR (5-2) currently own winning records overall. Kennedy (6-4) is the only other team in the league currently above .500, while DSST: Montview is 5-5 overall.

With the top-36 in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index making regionals, only three teams in the City League would be in the field. KIPP Denver was 25^th on Tuesday, while DSST: GVR was 30^th and DSST: Montview sat at 36^th. DSST: Conservatory Green was the next best in the standings, sitting at #40.

CSML NORTH

No games have been played inside the CSML North and only two of the teams in the league are in Class 3A. The Classical Academy was 3-3 as of Tuesday, while Mitchell was 2-4. Looking at the Selection and Seeding Index, TCA would be in regionals if the season ended right now, as the Lady Titans were sitting 27^th. Mitchell would be on the outside looking in, with the Lady Marauders down in the 50s.

FOOTHILLS

Three teams share the early lead in the Foothills, with Addenbrooke Classical, STEM Highlands Ranch, and Twin Peaks Charter all sitting at 1-0. Of those three, only STEM HR is in Class 3A. The Lady Spartans are 7-3 and ranked 32^nd in the Seeding Index. Aurora West (2-5, 65^th) and William Smith (0-3, 66^th) are both long shots to make the postseason bracket.

FRONTIER

Arrupe Jesuit (5-3) and Bennett (7-3) are both 2-0 in Frontier League play, while Alameda and Platte Canyon are both 1-0. Only the first two are in Class 3A. Bennett is 16^th in the Seeding Index, while Arrupe Jesuit is just barely in the top-36, sitting at #34. Middle Park (2-4, 46^th), Englewood (3-4, 54^th), and Jefferson (0-12, 67^th) all have a lot of work to do to make the regional field.

INDEPENDENT

#8 The Village is the only independent program in the classification. The only way the Lady Mountaineers can make regionals is by way of the Selection and Seeding Index. With a 7-2 record and a spot at #11 in the Seeding Index, there is a good chance they make the bracket.

INTERMOUNTAIN

#5 Alamosa sits alone atop the Intermountain at 2-0, while Montezuma-Cortez and Pagosa Springs are both 1-1. Bayfield is 0-2 in league play, and Centauri has yet to play a league match. The Lady Mean Moose are in the hunt to host a region, sitting fifth in the Seeding Index. Pagosa Springs (24^th) is in good shape right now, but Montezuma-Cortez is on the bubble at 35^th. Centauri (38^th) and Bayfield (39^th) aren’t too far off and either or both could make the climb with a hot streak.

JEFFCO

D’Evelyn (2-6) is the lone 3A program in the JEFFCO and the Lady Jaguars are going to need to make some hay once league play begins. They were 52^nd in the Seeding Index. D’Evelyn is one of only two teams in the league currently below .500 overall.

METRO

All but one team in the Metro have winning records, and most have not started league play. St. Mary’s Academy and Colorado Academy are both 1-0 in the league, with both having beaten Kent Denver. No one else has a league contest under their belt. Stargate (#9), Peak to Peak (#14), Forge Christian (#15), Kent Denver (#17), Eagle Ridge Academy (#19), The Academy (#22), St. Mary’s Academy (#23), Colorado Academy (#29), and Prospect Ridge Academy (#31) are all inside the top-36 of the Seeding Index. Only Jefferson Academy (#50) would miss the postseason as of Tuesday.

MILE HIGH

Estes Park is the only member of the Mile High in the classification, with 11 of the remaining 13 calling 2A home. Two are in 1A. The Lady Bobcats (5-5) are off to an 0-1 start in league play, and with a spot at #53 in the Seeding Index, the postseason could be out of reach.

PATRIOT

The Patriot League spans three classifications this year, from 2A-4A. Most of the teams are in 3A and they dominate the rankings. In this week’s MHPR poll, Platte Valley sits #1, with Eaton at #2, Resurrection Christian at #3, Sterling holds the #5 spot, Strasburg is #9, and Valley is tenth. Eaton, University, and Sterling are all 2-0 in league play, while Platte Valley and 2A Highland are both 1-0.

The top four teams in the Seeding Index are all from the Patriot, led by PV, Eaton, Sterling, and Resurrection Christian. Strasburg (#6), Windsor Charter Academy (#13), and Valley (#20) would also be in the postseason. Frontier Academy (#42) and Liberty Common (#43) could get into the mix.

TRI-PEAKS

#4 Lamar shares the early lead in the Tri-Peaks, along with St. Mary’s and The Vanguard School. St. Mary’s is in 2A. Lamar is eighth in the Seeding Index and would host a regional. The Vanguard is 26^th, which would make the Lady Coursers the fourth team from the league in the field. Banning Lewis (#12) would be the final regional host, and Salida (#18) would also be safely in the field. Woodland Park (#37) would be the first team out, and Florence (#42) needs to put together a nice winning streak to get in.

WESTERN SLOPE

Aspen, Cedaredge, and #6 Gunnison are all 2-0 in league play, while Basalt is just half a game back at 2-1. North Fork and Moffat County both enter Tuesday at 1-1. Gunnison is currently in a hosting position at #7 in the Selection and Seeding Index, and Cedaredge would also have the opportunity to host, with the Lady Bruins occupying the #10 spot. Basalt (#21) looks to be in good shape, while Aspen (#28) and Moffat County (#33) would breathe a lot easier with a hot stretch. Grand Valley (44^th), Olathe (46^th), and Roaring Fork (47^th) not only need some big winning streaks, but most likely would need quite a bit of help to reach the postseason.