CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – TUESDAY by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – TUESDAY

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

It’s another loaded schedule on a Tuesday, as teams return to the court following the Labor Day weekend. Three of the top matches involve teams out of the LPAA, including a huge showdown between 2A #1 Sedgwick County and #2 Fleming. All rankings are from the most recent MHPR Coaches and Media poll

#2 MERINO (4-0) VS 2A HOLYOKE (4-1)

Merino is coming off an unbeaten run at the NJC tournament on Saturday, which included victories over ranked teams Otis, Fleming, and Haxtun. The Lady Rams have yet to drop a set this season. Holyoke lost its first match in the same tournament, falling to Fleming. The Lady Dragons then defeated 2A Dayspring Christian and Otis, the latter in five sets.

#3 STRATTON (1-0) VS DEER TRAIL (0-4)

Stratton took out Cheyenne Wells in three sets on Friday, 27-25 in the third. Sophie Isenbart led the way with 11 kills and 13 digs. Deer Trail remained winless after a sweep loss to Flagler on Thursday. It was the second loss in less than a week to the Lady Panthers, who also beat them in the Miami-Yoder tournament.

#4 FLEMING (4-1) VS 2A #1 SEDGWICK COUNTY (3-0)

Fleming had won 12 consecutive sets to begin the season, including sweeps of Holyoke and Dayspring Christian in the NJC tournament. That run came to an end in the sweep loss to Merino. The Lady Wildcats have a pair of tough matches this week, following the contest against Sedgwick County with one against 2A Wiggins. The Lady Cougars won their only match of last week, 3-0 over Weldon Valley. They have won all three of their matches so far in sweeps.

#6 OTIS (2-2) AT LONE STAR (1-2)

The Lady Bulldogs had a bit of a rough go in the NJC tournament, losing to Merino in three and Holyoke in five. In between, they picked up a sweep victory over Haxtun. All four of their matches have been against LPAA teams in non-league play, including a 3-0 season opening victory over 2A Wray last Tuesday. Lone Star went 0-2 last week, losing to Caliche in five and McClave in three. Jade Kuntz had 11 kills against Caliche, and Grace Cochran had 21 digs. Cochran added 10 digs in the loss to McClave.

#7 HI-PLAINS (3-0) VS 2A BURLINGTON (1-0)

Hi-Plains posted wins over Kit Carson, Granada, and Weldon Valley last week, the last two in four sets. Cambria Seaman racked up 37 kills in the week, and the team had three in double figures against Weldon Valley. Brianna Rueb led with 16, while Addison Henschel and Taylor Hartman added 13 apiece. Burlington won its season opener on Thursday, beating Kit Carson in five sets. Peyton Stults put away 16 kills, followed by Emma McNerney with 14, Bethany Cure with 12, and Shayd Skarpohl with 10.

#8 FLATIRONS ACADEMY (5-0) VS LOVELAND CLASSICAL (0-5)

Flatirons Academy picked up its second win of the season over Rocky Mountain Lutheran last Tuesday, allowing fewer than 15 points in each set. Brylin Gomer led a balanced attack with eight kills, while Claire Friedman and Jenna Nehrbass each followed with seven. Loveland Classical was swept by Lyons last Thursday, keeping the Lady Lions winless. They have not won a set to date.

#13 PRAIRIE (2-0) AT #16 AKRON (4-1)

Prairie beat Idalia in its only match of the week, losing the first set and then responding with victories in the next three. Akron ran its winning streak with a tough five-setter over Briggsdale last Tuesday. The Lady Rams led the match 2-0, before Briggsdale won a wild third, 31-29. The Lady Falcons tied the match by winning the fourth, 25-23, but Akron bounced back with a 15-7 fifth.

#15 PLATEAU VALLEY (6-0) AT 3A GRAND VALLEY (1-5)

After five straight sweeps to begin the season, including one over 2A Cedaredge on Tuesday, Plateau Valley finally lost a set, actually two, against 2A Caprock Academy on Thursday. The Cowgirls led 2-0 before seeing Caprock Academy rally to force a fifth. Plateau Valley would get its mojo back and seal the victory, 15-7. Kyanna Himes hammered 21 kills in the win, and Lili Taylor chipped in 25 digs. Grand Valley saw its losing streak reach four with a four-set loss against 2A Soroco and a sweep defeat at the hands of 2A Rangely last week. Kylene Mascioli had six kills in the latter of those two losses, which was the second of the year for the Lady Cardinals against Rangely.