CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL WEEKEND PREVIEW
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The volleyball season officially gets underway on Thursday and the opening weekend in Class 1A has no shortage of high quality match-ups. We’ll take a look at some of the biggest ones on tap, with all rankings coming from the MHPR poll.
THURSDAY
#2 FLEMING AT AKRON
These two programs met in the first match of the season last year, with Fleming gaining a sweep at home. Akron put up a fight early, with the Lady Rams falling 20-25, but the home squad took over and won the next two sets 25-16 and 25-15.
Molly O’Neil led Akron with six kills and four blocks, while Kashlee Randel recorded nine assists and eight digs. Madison Woods topped the Lady Rams with 11 digs. Ashley Bornhoft posted 10 kills and five blocks to lead the Lady Wildcats. Ciana Lousberg added nine kills and 16 assists.
#14 SOUTH BACA AT SPRINGFIELD
South Baca took two tough wins over Springfield last year, including a wild five-setter in the opening match for both teams. Springfield trailed 2-1 in that contest before forcing a fifth with a 25-23 win in the fourth. The Lady Patriots rebounded to win the fifth, 15-11.
Cobi Mackey had 10 kills in the loss, while Sarah Elmore put away 28 for the Lady Patriots. Elmore also tallied four blocks and 30 digs. Abigail Anderson added 11 kills, four blocks, and 16 digs. South Baca’s Mary Brewer registered 54 digs, and Eliana Gutierrez tacked on 33.
#15 LONE STAR VS 2A WRAY
Wray outlasted the Lady Longhorns in the opener last year, taking the win in five sets. Lone Star jumped out to the 2-0 lead, but lost the last three, including a 13-15 fifth.
Lone Star was balanced on the attack, getting 10 kills apiece from Jade Kuntz and Peytyn Kuntz, and nine from Paityn Forry. Forry recorded 27 digs and both P. Kuntz and J. Kuntz popped up 25. Wray’s Mariah Deland led everyone with 19 kills, five aces, and four blocks. Kyla Kramer was tops on the Lady Eagles with 27 digs.
#18 GRANADA AT WALSH
Granada won both matches with Walsh last year, taking each one in four. In the opener, Walsh won the first set and then saw the Lady Bobcats come back to win the next three. The second time around, Granada went up 2-0, before Walsh forced a fourth.
Kayla Penick tallied 16 digs for the Lady Eagles in the first meeting, and followed that with another 16 in the rematch. Ava Alley totaled 53 assists in the two matches, 34 in the first one. Kinsley Williams had a total of 43 assists for the Lady Bobcats, 25 in the second meeting. Dayzriana Quintana recorded 24 digs in each of the matches.
FRIDAY
#8 EADS VS SIERRA GRANDE
These two did not play last year, but Eads won matches against the Lady Panthers in both 2022 and 2023. The Lady Eagles feature an attack that had five players with at least 90 kills last year, four return, led by Anna Wollert with 198, and Kara Wilson with 107. Jordynn Turcotte (95), and Bailey Sierra (90) round out the group. Sierra Grande returns Eneria Quintana, who led the program with 175 kills as a freshman. Audrianna Gerardo (51) is the only other Lady Panther with more than 50 last year.
#10 GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL AT #13 CHERAW
For the visiting Lady Pirates, this is a match they’ve been awaiting since falling to Cheraw in three sets at regionals last season. Cheraw also took a 2-1 win over Genoa-Hugo/Karval at the Stratton Bash.
Rhegan Sitzman (12) and Rylee Kelly (11) combined for 23 assists in the early meeting, while Adisyn Miell had 16 for the Lady Wolverines. Miell would duplicate that in the regional match, and added 13 aces.
SATURDAY
Saturday’s schedule is filled with tournaments and tris. Defending champion McClave opens at the Wiggins tournament, hosted by the #2 team in 2A. The Lady Cardinals will face 2A #4 Simla and 3A Valley in pool play. Wiggins, Weldon Valley, and Liberty Common make up the other pool.
#6 Sargent meets up with 2A #12 Hoehne, 3A La Junta, and 4A Pueblo Central in an event hosted by 2A Monte Vista. Sangre de Cristo is also in the field.
Flatirons Academy (#9) spends the day at the Addenbrooke Classical Academy tournament, with matches against Rocky Mountain Lutheran, 3A Windsor Charter, 2A #19 Denver Christian, and then a crossover match. The other pool includes Belleview Christian, 3A Banning Lewis, and the 2A hosts.
#11 Briggsdale challenges a pair of tough 2A opponents from the LPAA. The Lady Falcons will meet 2A #1 Sedgwick County and 2A #9 Haxtun in their annual tri.
Flagler (#17) goes to the Miami-Yoder tournament, with matches scheduled against Deer Trail, Pikes Peak Christian, and Miami-Yoder.
The are also a pair of straight-up matches involving highly-ranked teams, as #8 Eads hosts Evangel Christian Academy, and #12 Idalia hosting 2A #18 Holyoke.
MileHigh Prep Report 