CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Another big weekend of matches is upon us and it gets going on Friday. The past few days saw most of the top teams pass huge tests, and this weekend will be another challenge for a lot of those same teams. We’ll examine some of the match-ups with the most at stake. Note that this is not all about the top-12 in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index, but contests that could create some significant movement in the metric.
FRIDAY
#3 STRATTON (11-1) AT #5 OTIS (13-4)
What’s at stake?… Both teams are locks for the postseason and should host a regional pairing. Stratton keeps the pressure on Merino and Fleming for a top-two seed with a win in this non-league clash. Otis still has its eye on the YWKC title, but can’t get caught looking ahead to its match-up with Idalia.
#10 EADS (10-2) AT #22 CHEYENNE WELLS (6-9)
What’s at stake?… Eads remains in contention for the High Plains title and a shot at hosting a regional with a win. The Lady Eagles still have league leader McClave on the schedule and if both keep winning, that match will be for the outright crown in the division. Cheyenne Wells is clinging to a postseason spot and the schedule runs out of higher RPI match-ups pretty quickly. The Lady Tigers need to find an upset in the next few contests, or they could be left out of the postseason.
#19 PRAIRIE (7-6) AT #20 WELDON VALLEY (5-9)
What’s at stake?… Both teams are struggling to hold onto their postseason spots, but should benefit from a pretty high strength of the North league. Prairie is only 2-5 in its last seven, while the Lady Warriors are just 1-5 since beating Prairie, after last night’s four-set loss to Fleming.
#29 FLAGLER (5-7) AT #27 CALICHE (5-8)
What’s at stake?… Plain and simple, any hopes of making the final 24 in Class 1A. Both are clinging to a thread, but the winner remains in the mix for one of the final spots in the regional bracket.
SATURDAY
#4 IDALIA (14-2) VS 2A #1 SEDGWICK COUNTY (14-1)
What’s at stake?… For the Lady Wolves, this is a huge opportunity to make a statement against the top-ranked team in 2A. A win could send Idalia as high as #2 in the Seeding Index. The RPI points are massive for the winner.
#7 MCCLAVE (12-5) VS LAS ANIMAS (4-10)
What’s at stake?… McClave only has a few more chances to make up some ground on the teams currently ahead of the Lady Cards. They can ill-afford a stumble in a contest against a 2A squad that is in the bottom half of the metric in that classification.
#8 SARGENT (15-0) AT 2A #18 SANFORD (9-5)
What’s at stake?… Sargent moved up one spot in the Seeding Index with its win over 2A #26 Buena Vista on Tuesday. A win over Sanford could be worth a little bit more. The Lady Farmers don’t play another 1A opponent the rest of the regular season, and counting Sanford, five of the last eight matches are against teams in the top-25 of 2A.
#28 PLATEAU VALLEY (7-8) AT 2A #6 MEEKER (9-3)
What’s at stake?… Plateau Valley has some work to do to get into the top-24 of the Seeding Index, but bumping off a highly-ranked Meeker squad would go a long way to accomplishing that goal. The Cowgirls have a huge one next week with #21 De Beque that could determine if either of them end up in the bracket.
STRATTON BASH
What’s at stake?… The field of the annual Stratton Bash includes #3 Stratton, #9 Cheraw, #11 Genoa-Hugo/Karval, #15 Hi-Plains, #26 Lone Star, #29 Flagler, and 2A #20 Burlington. That puts a ton of RPI points on the table for anyone who finishes in the top-four of the tournament.
MONDAY
#12 FLATIRONS ACADEMY (13-3) VS 2A #19 GILPIN COUNTY (8-4)
What’s at stake?… The Lady Bison currently hold the final regional hosting position. With a closing stretch that includes four top-20 opponents, three in 2A, Flatirons Academy could either make a move up the standings, or find itself traveling in the regional round.
MileHigh Prep Report 