CLASS 3A VOLLEYBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With the regular season in Class 3A down to its final three weeks, we want to take another look at each league and see what teams are safely into the postseason field, and who still has some work to do to secure one of the top-36 spots in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index. We’re using the Tuesday morning release of that metric.
CITY
No one is currently safe, as the top teams in the City League, KIPP Denver Collegiate (#31), DSST: Montview (#32), and DSST: Conservatory Green (#35) are all hanging around the bubble. The latter two of those three are tied atop the league standings, with their head-to-head contest on Thursday. Pending the outcome of matches on Tuesday, the winner of that one should lock up the automatic qualifying spot from the league. The loser, as well as KIPP Denver, could have some nervous moments in the final two weeks.
CSML NORTH
To earn an automatic spot into the regional field, The Classical Academy or Mitchell would have to win the league outright. TCA has a chance to do that, as the Lady Titans are only one game back of Falcon for the lead, and they play a second time next Thursday. Sitting 18th in the Seeding Index, they are going to make the field one way or the other. Down at #58, Mitchell has too much ground to make up and not enough matches to do so.
FOOTHILLS
In another mixed classification league, the best shot at making the field is by winning the Foothills title. STEM School Highlands Ranch is only one back of the leaders, Loveland Classical, and they square off next Monday. Getting the automatic berth seems to be the only path for any of the three teams in the 3A side of the league, as the aforementioned STEM HR (#39) is the closest to sniffing the bubble.
FRONTIER
Four teams currently share the lead in the Frontier, including #12 Bennett and #16 Middle Park. They’re both safely in the postseason bracket, but both would still like to lock up a league title. Arrupe Jesuit looks to have a good shot at getting in as an at large, sitting at #28.
INDEPENDENT
The Village has to rely on qualifying by the Selection and Seeding Index, and at #5 in that metric, the Lady Mountaineers are a lock to make the bracket in their first season of play.
INTERMOUNTAIN
By virtue of its title in the Intermountain, #4 Alamosa is locked in. Bayfield (#13) is also in, and still has a shot at hosting a regional. Centauri is 24th in the metric, and also looks to be safe. Pagosa Springs is only two spots back, giving the league a very good shot at having four teams in the bracket.
JEFFCO
D’Evelyn is the lone 3A team in the Jeffco, and with the Lady Jaguars sitting 44th in the Seeding Index, they’re out of the mix for an at large spot.
METRO
Stargate School (#9), Peak to Peak (#11), The Academy (#15), Colorado Academy (#22), Forge Christian (#23), Kent Denver (#29), St. Mary’s Academy (#30), Prospect Ridge Academy (#33), and Eagle Ridge Academy (#34) would all be in the field as of Tuesday. However, the last five of those schools really need to stack up as many wins as possible to avoid dealing with consternation when the final bracket is released. Jefferson Academy (#37) can’t be written off, as the Lady Jaguars are just one spot outside the top-36. That means all 10 members of the 3A side of the league are in contention. Denver Christian, the lone 2A member of the Metro, is 13th in that classifications.
MILE HIGH
Estes Park is the only member of the Mile High to call 3A home, and with a current ranking of 42nd, it looks like the Lady Bobcats will miss the bracket.
PATRIOT
The automatic qualifying berth will be decided on Thursday, when #1 Eaton hosts #2 Platte Valley. Both are lead pipe locks to make the bracket. The same goes for #6 Resurrection Christian, #8 Sterling, #10 Strasburg, #14 Windsor Charter Academy, and #21 Valley. University is #4 in Class 4A.
TRI-PEAKS
You can use ink to put #4 Lamar in the bracket, and both Banning Lewis Academy (#19) and The Vanguard School (#20) are pretty safe. Salida at #25 has likely done enough to secure its spot, too. Woodland Park has some nervous times ahead, with the Lady Panthers sitting right on the cut-off at #36. The league also has a top representative in 2A, with Colorado Springs Christian sitting seventh in that classification.
WESTERN SLOPE
The role call of teams from the Western Slope who look like locks begins with #7 Gunnison and #17 Cedaredge. Aspen should be able to hold onto a spot, with the Lady Skiers checking in at #27. Beyond those three, the next best shot at getting in rests with #38 North Fork.
MileHigh Prep Report 