CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL PREVIEW
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Twenty-four teams have made their way into this weekend’s regional round of the Class 1A postseason. Those teams will compete in 12 two-team regions, with the winner of each advancing to next week’s state tournament. Here is our quick look at each of the 12 regions.
REGION ONE
#24 DE BEQUE (13-9) AT #1 MERINO (22-1) SATURDAY 11AM
Merino’s Brooklyn Sutter enters the match needing 10 assists to break the all-time, all classification record in Colorado. She’s averaging close to 10.5 per set, so that record could fall early in the match. The four-time defending champs have plenty of options in the attack, led by Jaylyn Lynch (305). Kya Piel has added 215, and Veronica Baray is at 160 on the season.
De Beque lost its last two matches, leading to some anxious moments over the weekend, but playing in a league with some tough 2A competition helped carry the Lady Dragons into the postseason. Ava Vines is the clear #1 option for the Lady Dragons, entering the match with 318 kills. The next two, Avery Rigsby (164) and Ally Sandidge (134) have combined for 20 fewer. Sandidge is eight assists away from giving De Beque three players with at least 100 assists on the season.
REGION TWO
#23 MILE HIGH ACADEMY (20-3) AT #2 IDALIA (20-3) THURSDAY 4PM
Idalia won its fourth ever YWKC league championship and is just two wins away from tying the program’s highest win total in close to a decade. It’s been a season of milestones for the Lady Wolves, who saw Addy Juhnke go over 1000 career digs, and Brigette Kite went over 1000 career assists a week later. Juhnke (222), Jaylyn Kechter (189), and Krista Wieser (149) create a balanced attack, and Tatum Soehner needs one kill to give Idalia four in triple digits.
This was the first 20-win season in the history of Mile High Academy as a CHSAA member, and it marks a 14-win improvement over last year. Balance in the attack has been a big key for the 5280 champs, as Delanie Prowant (161), Jazel McDaniel (116), Addy Dodds (106), and Lacey Whyte (104) are all over 100 kills on the season. Alaina Hickman (201) and Carissa Donovan (185) are closing in on a combined 400 assists directing the offense.
REGION THREE
#22 LONE STAR (12-11) AT #3 FLEMING (18-5) FRIDAY 6PM
Lone Star gets to make the shortest trip of any visiting team in the postseason,as the Lady Longhorns have reached regionals for the first time in program history. Lone Star and Fleming are neighboring districts, and Lone Star sends football players to Fleming. Back row defense has been very good for the Lady Longhorns this season, with five players having at least 200 digs. Jade Kuntz is tops with 434, followed by Paityn Forry (373), Grace Cochran (263), Peytyn Kuntz (238), and Jaylin Weber (217).
That back line will be tested by the North Central champs, who already own a sweep over Lone Star in late September. Fleming took 110 swings in that match, recording 40 kills. Ashley Bornhoft (304), Ciana Lousberg (213), and Quincy Stull (187) have combined for over 700 kills on the season. They tallied 28 of the kills in that earlier win over Lone Star. The Lady Wildcats have two very good setters in C. Lousberg (389) and Hayley Chamberlain (331), who are both over 300 assists on the year.
REGION FOUR
#21 SOUTH BACA (16-7) AT #4 OTIS (18-5) SATURDAY 11AM
In a season that saw Otis finish third in the YWKC, the Lady Bulldogs are still only two wins away from their first 20-win campaign since 2018. Three of their five losses this season were to the top three seeds in the bracket. With her 317 kills this season, Maddie Willeke climbed over the 1000 mark for her career. Aedyn Tribelhorn has added 231 kills, and Layce Perry is at 140. As the primary setter, Crysten Goble has racked up 627 assists.
South Baca made an unbeaten run through the Arkansas Valley, earning the program’s first trip to the postseason since 2019. The Lady Patriots made the state tournament that season. Sophomore Sarah Elmore (337) is just 19 kills away from 500 for her career. She also has 50 solo blocks and more than 300 digs on the season. Mary Brewer tops the latter category with 327. Callie Hinds has 215 assists, and Eliana Gutierrez had added 194.
REGION FIVE
#20 PRAIRIE (11-12) AT #5 MCCLAVE (18-5) SATURDAY 11AM
After dropping two matches in the Akron tournament in late September, McClave finished the season with nine consecutive wins. The High Plains champs lost one set in that stretch. The Lady Cards played 2/3 of the season without Abrielle Gomez, who was recovering from offseason surgery. Avery Hemphill stepped up her game, leading the team with 308 kills. Ashlynn Steinbrunn (167) and Emily Melgoza (147) have added more than 300 additional kills between them. The back row defense has been very strong, with three players racking up more than 300 digs. Hemphill leads that trio with 325, followed by Steinbrunn (313), and Yesenia Almanza (310).
With losses in three of their last five matches, the Lady Mustangs were another team that spent the weekend on pins and needles, waiting to see if they were safely in the bracket, or if their bubble would burst. The depth of the NCL helped get Prairie in, and it’s a pretty young squad that comes into the regional round. Hannah Kugler, a sophomore, leads with 222 kills and 249 digs. Underclassmen Nicole Ludgate and Molly Walker have recorded 345 and 300 assists, respectively.
REGION SIX
#19 CHEYENNE WELLS (11-10) AT #6 STRATTON (18-5) SATURDAY 11AM
Stratton won the Union Pacific crown for the fourth straight year, and has only lost one league match in that span. Two names routinely appear at the top of the stat sheet, with Sophie Isenbart having recorded 281 kills, 42 total blocks, and 219 digs, and Clare Miltenberger tallying 43 aces, 237 digs, and 557 assists. Peyton Ruhs (115) and Elle Bohnen (103) give the Lady Eagles two more options in the attack, while Hanna Notter has a team-high 296 digs, pushing her to more than 1200 for her career.
Cheyenne Wells had a couple of rough stretches during the season, losing four out of five early in the year, and a four-match losing streak midway through the campaign. However, the Lady Tigers got hot late, winning three straight and five of six to close the regular season. Savannah Worley has a team-high 214 kills, but there’s plenty of depth behind her. Paige Ryser (151), Aubry Carroll (137), Serenity Worley (115), and Evan Scheimer (110) all have triple digits. Aliyah Muth has kept everyone involved, posting 563 assists so far.
REGION SEVEN
#18 PRIMERO (20-3) AT #7 DOVE CREEK (22-1) SATURDAY 10AM
It’s been awhile since Dove Creek has tasted defeat, as the Lady Bulldogs enter the regional round on a 19-match winning streak. That includes an unbeaten run through the San Juan Basin. Ralynn Hickman (381) and Taylor Barry (260) are the only players with more than 70 kills on the season, and they’re two of the top three defenders for Dove Creek. Hickman is tops with 309 digs and Barry has 299. Sandwiched between is Hadley Hatfield with 306. Hannah Barry is closing in on 700 assists for the season, needing 27 to reach the mark.
Primero recorded its first 20-win season in the MaxPreps era (2007-current), with the Lady Bulldogs getting out of the gates with 11 consecutive victories. Jaleysia Atkins and Isabela Maldonado are neck and neck atop the stat sheet in kills, with 160 and 155, respectively. They’re also two of the top three on the team in digs. Isabella Shew leads with 284, while Maldonado (263) and Atkins (249) are also over 200 for the season.
REGION EIGHT
#17 WELDON VALLEY (11-12) AT #8 FLATIONS ACADEMY (20-3) SATURDAY 10AM
The move to a new league didn’t faze Flatirons Academy, as the Lady Bison rolled to the title in the Mile High without losing a match. In fact, they only lost four sets in 11 league matches. Brylin Gomer is the primary hitter, putting away 279 kills, but Josie Pascal is a solid second option, racking up 157. Alivia Cox directs the offense, picking up 443 assists.
Weldon Valley dropped three of its first four matches this season, and had a four-match losing streak shortly after, but the Lady Warriors closed with three straight victories, and winning four of five following a sweep loss to Flatirons. Weldon Valley hasn’t entered complete stats, but seniors Kyra Keating and Annie Onufrak, along with classmate Hayden Houser, are three players to watch. Skyler Scott, a junior, has been a very good setter for the program this season.
REGION NINE
#16 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (16-7) AT #9 HI-PLAINS (16-7) SATURDAY 11AM
An upset win over Otis early in the season really gave Hi-Plains belief that big things could happen this year. The Lady Patriots struggled against the top six teams in the field, but did get a big sweep win over Stratton in a five-match winning streak to close the regular season. Freshman Cambria Seaman broke on the scene with a team-leading 236 kills and 338 digs. Dejah Haymore has been a very nice complement, adding 191 kills and 34 total blocks. Addison Henschel (317), Kennedy Henschel (218). and Serenity Hernandez (216) round out the dig leaderboard.
Evangel Christian went through a tough three-match losing streak midway through the season, but the Lady Eagles went on a nine-match winning run to close out the regular season. Eight of those wins were in sweeps. Ellie Wagner has a slim lead over Mia Castro for the team lead in kills, 208 to 190. Elanor Morgan has added another 125. Wagner also leads the team with 331 digs and 295 assists. Peyton Lynn is at 267 assists on the season.
REGION TEN
#15 LA VETA (15-8) AT #10 SARGENT (21-2) SATURDAY 1PM
In their first season of 1A, the Lady Farmers won their first 17 matches, including 14 by sweeps. Both of Sargent’s losses came against 2A qualifiers. Kandace Pargin leads a young squad with 296 kills, but the Lady Farmers also have three more players with at least 100 kills. Reese Anderson (130), Makenzie Consaul (106), and Kimmy Pargin (103) round out the group. Catie Deacon is five away from joining them. Anderson has 411 assists, exactly 200 ahead of Kandace Pargin.
La Veta only needed two wins to claim the title of the Fishers Peak, which the Lady Redhawks accomplished in sweeps of Primero and Manzanola. One kill is separating Grace D’esposito (235) and Aspen Autry (234). Those two also have more than 300 digs apiece, with D’esposito having a team-high 386, and Autry adding 332. Marianna Delacruz has piled up 420 assists.
REGION ELEVEN
#14 GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (15-8) AT #11 CHERAW (17-6) FRIDAY 5PM
Having dropped three of their five previous matches, the Lady Wolverines got pushed hard in their finale by Arickaree/Woodlin before pulling out a five-set victory. That gave Cheraw 10 wins in its final 13 matches, including a 2-1 win over Genoa-Hugo/Karval at the Stratton Bash. Delaney Bond (252) and Kieran Harris (166) are the lone players in triple digit kills, and those two also lead in digs. Harris has the edge there with 290 to 277. Brilyn Miell is at 248. Adisyn Miell has collected 457 assists.
The Lady Pirates picked up five wins against regional qualifiers this season, including 2A Burlington. They finished the regular season with four consecutive sweep wins. While Rylee Corn (189) and Amy Pinion (128) are currently the only two Genoa-Hugo/Karval players with at least 100 kills, Alexis Pinion and Kallie Yoder are just two and four, respectively, from joining them. Rylee Kelly is tops with 300 assists, but Rhegan Sitzman trails her by only 11.
REGION TWELVE
#13 EADS (12-6) AT #12 BRIGGSDALE (15-8) FRIDAY 4PM
After dropping three of four late in the season, Briggsdale won its last five, including a sweep of Stratton in the finale. That last one most likely secured the final hosting spot for the Lady Falcons. Kayl Klem has a team-leading 355 kills as the #1 option, leaving her 69 away from 1000 in her career. Claire Brown needs five to reach 200 for the season, while Lizzy Baker just went over 100 for the year. Libby Slinger, who has 714 assists this year and close to 2400 in her career, is one of three Lady Falcons with more than 300 digs. Klem (365) leads the team, while Elexis Sullivan (337) and Slinger (305) are next on the list.
With several players splitting time between volleyball and softball early in the season, Eads spent most of the campaign inside the top-10 of the Seeding Index. That changed late in the year, as the Lady Eagles lost five of their last seven, including their final three. Those three all came against top-six teams in the bracket. Anna Wollert (191) and Kara Wilson (101) lead a deep attack, that also features Jordynn Turcotte (90) and Bailey Sierra (81). Sierra has surpassed her freshman dig total by 10, racking up 424. Lexi Shotton is also over 400, having tallied 405.
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