CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

Week four has a number of interesting match-ups for your viewing pleasure, and a lot of them come early in the week. The top two teams in the most recent MHPR Coaches and Media polls face challenges within their respective leagues, and several other contenders will navigate non-league clashes.

TUESDAY

#1 MCCLAVE (7-0) AT #16 CHEYENNE WELLS (5-1)

It’s a showdown in the High Plains league. McClave took care of Idalia in a sweep on Saturday, winning in sets of 25-14/10/22. It was the sixth sweep of the season for the Lady Cardinals, and fifth in a row. Cheyenne Wells also got a win over Idalia last week, winning 2-1 in a triangular. The Lady Tigers also swept St. Francis (KS). They were pushed to five on Saturday by Wiley, eventually winning 15-9 in the fifth.

#2 MERINO (6-0) AT 2A WRAY (1-4)

This one is a LPAA clash, with teams from different classes squaring off. Merino made it six straight sweeps to open the season, taking down 2A #12 Holyoke and 2A #3 Simla last week. The latter saw the Lady Rams win 25-20, 25-21, 26-24. Wray had lost its first three matches of the year, including two in five sets, before breaking through on Saturday against Burlington in four. The Lady Eagles turned around and fell to #14 Prairie in four later that day.

#6 FLATIRONS ACADEMY (7-0) AT DENVER WALDORF (0-0)

The Lady Bison made it four straight sweeps with a 3-0 win at Weldon Valley last Thursday. Brylin Gomer put away 14 kills, while Jenna Nehrbass and Claire Friedman racked up eight apiece in the victory. Gomer and Nehrbass led a block party, with each recording seven total. The team had 23. It’s the opener for the Lady Spartans.

#8 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (5-0) VS #17 GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (2-2)

ECA had a pair of tight contests last week, beating 2A Calhan in five, coming back from 2-1 down, and Custer County in four on Saturday. Ellie Wagner (24) and Mia Castro (23) combined for 47 kills in the win over Calhan. Genoa-Hugo/Karval was dominated by Stratton on Thursday, with the Lady Pirates falling 25-12/14/11 in Union Pacific play. Jira Kissel had 13 digs for GH/K.

#10 HI-PLAINS (4-2) AT 2A LIMON (0-3)

After a strong start to the week in which the Lady Patriots beat 2A Burlington in four, Hi-Plains was swept by #9 Eads on Thursday, and then fell to #5 Otis in five on Saturday. The Lady Patriots dropped the fifth set 15-11. Limon won the first set against Kit Carson last Thursday, but then proceeded to lose the next three, leaving the Lady Badgers in search of their first win on the season. Madison Witt and Emma Coonts had 11 kills apiece in the defeat.

#13 CALICHE (4-0) VS 2A HAXTUN (3-4)

Caliche picked up its second sweep of Peetz in a week’s time, taking last Friday’s match 25-18/12/22. Ryann Svoboda led a balanced attack with 12 kills. Three other Lady Buffs had at least six. Faye Lueck popped up a dozen digs. Ahead of opening the LPAA slate with this pairing, Haxtun took a 3-0 victory over Wichita County (KS) on Friday.

#14 PRAIRIE (4-0) AT POTTER-DIX, NE (2-2)

Prairie took out a pair of LPAA foes in non-league action last week, beating Akron in five and then picking up the four-set win at Wray on Saturday. Tanna Bailey put down 23 kills in the win at Akron, and she had plenty of help in the attack, as Hannah Kugler racked up 16, and Macie Jaeger added 11. Nicole Ludgate directed the attack with 54 assists. Potter-Dix is 0-2 against Colorado opponents this year, losing to Peetz in four and Lone Star in a sweep.

WEDNESDAY

#14 PRAIRIE VS PEETZ (1-4)

This is the North Central opener for both teams. Seven Lady Bulldogs picked up multiple kills in last Tuesday’s win over Potter-Dix, led by Ella Pejsa with nine. Jaidynn Reiman dealt six aces and led the team with 29 digs.