CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
We’re taking a different route with the Class 3A volleyball report this week, as the focus will be upon teams sitting 30th through 41st in Tuesday morning’s release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index. These are the teams that would be the last seven in and first five out if the regular season ended now.
#30 MOFFAT COUNTY LADY BULLDOGS (6-6 OVERALL, 2-1 WESTERN SLOPE)
The Lady Bulldogs picked up Western Slope wins over Olathe and Grand Valley the last two weeks and are beginning a big stretch that will have a huge impact on their postseason hopes. Moffat County visits #10 Cedaredge on Thursday, #37 Middle Park next Tuesday, and will host #44 Basalt later next week. Of course, an upset of the Lady Bruins would be enormous for the Lady Bulldogs, but taking care of two bubble teams would also go a long way to helping nail down a regional spot.
#31 ASPEN LADY SKIERS (4-5 OVERALL, 2-1 WESTERN SLOPE)
Aspen finds itself in a similar position as Moffat County, tied for third in the Western Slope and facing a crucial stretch over the next two weeks. The Lady Skiers dropped a four-setter to Cedaredge last Thursday and will square up against Basalt on the road on Tuesday. That is followed by a home contest with #55 Roaring Fork on Thursday and a trip to #46 Coal Ridge next Thursday. Aspen could probably survive losing one of those three, but going 3-0 would be a big boost as the season enters its final three or four weeks.
#32 STEM HIGHLANDS RANCH LADY SPARTANS (8-3 OVERALL, 2-0 FOOTHILLS)
As one of three teams without a league loss in the Foothills, STEM HR is in position to create havoc. Should the Lady Spartans go on to win the league outright, they would be guaranteed a spot in regionals, regardless of where they finish in the Seeding Index. One would have to assume that winning enough matches to claim the league title would keep them high enough in the metric for that to not be an issue. The Lady Spartans get a shot at one of the other co-leaders, Ascent Classical Academy (2A #28) on Wednesday. After that are three matches that the Lady Spartans can ill-afford to lose, at home on Friday with #65 Aurora West College Prep, next Monday with Two Roads Charter (2A #53), and next Wednesday at #67 William Smith.
#33 THE CLASSICAL ACADEMY LADY TITANS (4-4 OVERALL, 0-0 CSML NORTH)
The Lady Titans begin CSML North play on Tuesday at 4A #72 Sierra, after breaking a three-match losing streak with a sweep of #63 Manitou Springs on Monday. A huge league match with 4A #35 Sand Creek awaits on Thursday. Next Monday, TCA visits #54 Mitchell. Going 3-0 would really bolster the postseason dreams of the Lady Titans, in part because they would have at least a share of the league lead.
#34 CENTAURI LADY FALCONS (4-7 OVERALL, 1-1 INTERMOUNTAIN)
Centauri gave itself a big boost last Saturday by beating #36 Pagosa Springs for its first league win of the year. That victory snapped a three-match slide by the Lady Falcons, who have a tough one on Friday against #28 Bayfield. They’re home the next day to face #41 Montezuma-Cortez. The Lady Falcons take a small respite from league play next Thursday with a trip to 2A #24 Sanford.
#35 WOODLAND PARK LADY PANTHERS (7-4 OVERALL, 3-1 TRI-PEAKS)
The Lady Panthers have won five straight, including three inside the Tri-Peaks, but the upcoming stretch could be make or break for them. That starts off with a home contest against 2A #4 Colorado Springs Christian on Tuesday, followed by a trip to #24 The Vanguard School on Thursday. The Lady Panthers are back home next Tuesday to face #40 Florence. All three matches are league affairs.
#36 PAGOSA SPRINGS LADY PIRATES (5-6 OVERALL, 1-3 INTERMOUNTAIN)
Pagosa Springs has hit a bumpy patch, losing three of its last four matches, including two straight. The Lady Pirates host Kirtland Central (NM) on Tuesday and then visit Montezuma-Cortez next Monday. Things get really interesting later next week, with a trip to #6 Alamosa on the weekend. There are several contests remaining against fellow bubble squads, but the Lady Pirates need to get the ship righted in a hurry, as they sit as the last team in the bracket right now.
#37 MIDDLE PARK LADY PANTHERS (4-4 OVERALL, 2-0 FRONTIER)
After suffering a four-match losing streak early in the season, the Lady Panthers have won their last three, including a pair of league contests. Tuesday brings with it a massive opportunity for Middle Park, with 4A #4 Fort Lupton coming in for a visit. That’s followed by a trip to 4A #39 Arvada on Thursday, and a non-league clash at home next Tuesday against Moffat County. The first two are league contests.
#38 DSST: GREEN VALLEY RANCH LADY RAPTORS (6-3 OVERALL, 2-1 CITY)
DSST: GVR had its five-match winning streak snapped last Thursday as #19 KIPP Denver Collegiate handed the Lady Raptors their first league loss. The Lady Raptors need to make a push to get inside the top-36 and that starts on Tuesday with a home league contest against #58 DSST: College View. They have a non-league date at #53 Englewood on Friday and a league clash at #64 Bruce Randolph next Tuesday. A loss in any of those three could be too much to overcome.
#39 DSST: CONSERVATORY GREEN LADY GREEN HORNETS (3-5 OVERALL, 1-0 CITY)
After a season-opening win, the Lady Green Hornets dropped their next five in a row. That slide was ended with a win over The Vanguard School, which was followed by a sweep of Bruce Randolph. DSST: CG goes to #51 Kennedy for a league match on Tuesday and is home on Thursday for #60 Manual. An appearance at the Northfield tournament on Saturday will give the program a shot at some bigger schools.
#40 FLORENCE LADY HUSKIES (3-2 OVERALL, 0-0 TRI-PEAKS)
The Lady Huskies have alternated wins and losses to begin the season and go into their league opener against #56 La Junta looking to win consecutive matches for the first time this year. There’s a chance for Florence to make up some ground in the chase for a playoff spot, with a trip to #23 Salida on Thursday, as a victory would be huge, especially with Saturday’s non-league journey to 1A #61 Colorado Springs School, which could have a negative impact, even with a win.
#41 MONTEZUMA-CORTEZ LADY PANTHERS (7-10 OVERALL, 1-1 INTERMOUNTAIN)
With most of their calendar already behind them, the Lady Panthers are short on opportunities to jump into the postseason mix. They do have two shots at #6 Alamosa still on the schedule, including a road trip on Friday. They go to fellow bubble team Centauri on Saturday and will host Pagosa Springs next Tuesday.
MileHigh Prep Report 