CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – WEEKEND by Kerry Sherman

Picture by Karianne Donnelson (Fleming vs Merino)

CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – WEEKEND

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

The final spots in the regional round will be settled over the weekend, with the champion of the 5280 being decided. That winner will bump the team sitting 24^th in the Selection and Seeding Index. That team is currently Cheyenne Wells, but a rough weekend by Kiowa could drop the Lady Indians to that spot. They have two matches this weekend,, while Cheyenne Wells has completed its regular season slate.

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FRIDAY

#1 MERINO (20-2) VS #21 AKRON (9-13)

After sweeping Prairie on Thursday, Merino has won its last five matches. The Lady Rams are looking to sweep the LPAA, and they’ll have to take down another squad of Lady Rams. Akron beat Peetz in non-league action on Tuesday, allowing a total of 37 points. Madison Woods and Kaydence Headden had eight kills apiece in the win. Kashlee Randel tallied 21 assists, 15 digs, and four aces.

#2 MCCLAVE (19-2) AT WILEY (8-14)

McClave has already locked up the High Plains title, and the Lady Cardinals picked up a huge non-league win at 2A #24 Del Norte on Thursday. They allowed 35 points in the victory. This match against Wiley is the first of two this weekend against teams out of the Ark Valley, as the Lady Cardinals host Springfield on Saturday. Wiley broke a brief two-match slide by beating 2A Crowley County in four on Tuesday. The Lady Panthers dropped the opening set and then pulled off the reverse sweep.

#10 PRAIRIE (16-6) AT #23 KIOWA (11-7)

For Prairie, the sweep loss to Merino on Thursday was the third in the last four matches. The Lady Mustangs also had losses to a very good 3A Sterling team, and Stratton. It’s the start of a very important weekend for Kiowa, as noted above. They hold the 23^rd spot by just over .001 in the Seeding Index. Saturday has the Lady Indians competing in the Corridor Classic.

#11 PLATEAU VALLEY (20-1) VS 2A SOROCO (11-7)

Plateau Valley enters it season finale on the second winning streak of 10 matches this season. The most recent victory came last Friday when the Cowgirls beat Rangely in four sets. They fell in the first set and then reverse swept the Lady Panthers. Kyanna Himes (16) and Vivian Arthur (13) combined for 29 kills in the win. Soroco enters the weekend one spot outside of the 2A postseason field. The Lady Rams head into this important contest having won their last four. That includes a big five-setter over 3A Basalt last Saturday. Alexis Iacovetto led the Lady Rams with 15 kills, and Kolbie Pierce added 14.

SATURDAY

#3 FLEMING (19-3) VS #12 CALICHE (14-7)

Fleming suffered its second loss of the season against Merino on Tuesday, and the Lady Wildcats have lost two of their last three, with the other loss at the hands of 2A #1 Simla. After falling 15-25 in the first set, the Lady Wildcats responded to pressure the top-ranked Lady Rams on Tuesday, dropping the next two sets by scores of 22-25 and 23-25. A five-set victory over Wray on Tuesday has Caliche occupying the final regional hosting position. Ryann Svoboda put down 17 kills in that win, and Hallie Lewis tacked on 13.

#5 STRATTON (16-6) VS BRIGGSDALE (5-16)

Stratton followed a sweep loss to Merino last Saturday by getting swept by Hi-Plains on Tuesday. Briggsdale lost two tough matches last weekend, falling to a top-10 2A Wiggins on Thursday and Caliche on Friday. Alana Sullivan had 14 kills in the latter of the two matches. Bailey Loyd dished out 30 assists.

#7 HI-PLAINS (17-5) VS BETHUNE (7-12)

Tuesday’s win over Stratton may have been the biggest victory of the year for the Lady Patriots, who also have a four-set decision over Granada, the team sitting right ahead of them in the Seeding Index. They’ve won five straight since falling to Stratton in the finals of the Stratton Bash. With a young squad, Bethune went into Thursday’s match at Granada having won three in a row. They were unable to extend the streak, as Granada earned a sweep in the clash of Lady Bobcats.

#8 SARGENT (18-2) AT LIMON TOURNAMENT

Sargent makes the trip to Limon to square off against a trio of 2A teams. The Lady Farmers will face #57 Limon, plus regional qualifiers Fowler (#15) and Byers (#25).

#9 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (18-4) VS 2A PEYTON (8-14)

Evangel Christian dominated Fountain Valley on Tuesday, 25-13/9/15, behind an attack led by Ellie Wagner. The junior put away 14 kills, giving her double digits in 12 straight matches. Mia Castro added nine. Peyton broke a three-match slide with a four-set victory over Limon on Thursday.