Class 1A Regional Volleyball Predictions
Here are my Predictions on who is going to win the 12 regionals taking place this weekend. I will give a quick breakdown of why I am picking each team to win. Full Preview of the Class 1A Regional will be posted tomorrow by Kerry Sherman.
Region 1
#1 Merino over #24 Front Range Baptist
Merino has been a powerhouse for Volleyball, and they will look to continue that this season. Front Range Baptist will look to shock the world and will have to play their best volleyball match of the season
Region 2
#2 McClave over #23 Kiowa
McClave played a tough schedule to prepare for regionals. They are one of the top teams and will look to push to state. Kiowa will also look to shock everyone and pull a huge upset.
Region 3
#3 Fleming over #22 Genoa-Hugo
Fleming will look to advance to the State Tournament but did not get the easiest draw to do so. Genoa-Hugo played a tough schedule and will look to pull the big upset.
Region 4
#4 Flatirons Academy over #21 Akron
Not an easy draw for Flatirons Academy. Akron has defeated some of the top teams like Caliche and pushed the top teams like Hi-Plains to 5. Flatirons Academy will have to play a full game to try and get by Akron.
Region 5
#5 Granada over #20 Primero
Granada will be looking to reach the state tournament for the first time since at least 2004. Granada will be tested by Primero who took Sanford 5 and defeated Hoehne towards the end of the season.
Region 6
#6 Stratton over #19 Otis
At one point both of these teams were ranked inside the top 10 of the Volleyball Rankings. Otis hit a rough patch to end the season and could be injury related. If Otis is healthy this could be a very tough regional matchup. Stratton is playing some of their best Volleyball and down the stretch picked up solid wins over Prairie, Burlington, and Eads.
Region 7
#7 Hi-Plains over #18 South Baca
South Baca won the Class 1A Ark Valley League and have won 13 straight games going back to their 3-0 loss to Eads on 9/20. South Baca will have to play one of their best games to knock off the #7 Seeded Team. HI-Plains made the State Tournament last year and ended their season with quality wins over Haxtun, Akron, Lone Star, and Stratton. I do think Hi-Plains could be tested in this region.
Region 8
#8 Sargent over #17 Lone Star
No an easy draw for Sargent as they have to play a Lone Star team who is playing their best Volleyball. Lone Star ended the year with quality wins over Flagler, Weldon Valley, and Springfield. Sargent has cruised most of the year and had their long winning streak snaped when they lost to #11 2A Ignacio in 5. Sargent has proven they are a top teams with wins over Sanford, Buena Vista, and Fowler.
Region 9
#9 Evangelical Christian over #16 Cheraw
I have ECA on upset alert in this game. Cheraw has proven at teams they can beat top teams and lost to ECA 3-1. Cheraw has played better since entering October and they look to grab the upset. ECA was tested at times down the end of the year and lost a game in October to Pikes Peak Christian. ECA will look to keep their run of shutouts going after ending the year winning 4 straight games by sweep.
Region 10
#10 Prairie over #15 Flagler
Prairie is look to get to the State Tournament and have played a tough schedule to prepare them for it. Prairie down the stretch faced Sterling, Stratton, and Merino so they know what it will take to make it to Denver. Flagler has also played a tough schedule with key wins over Otis and Cheyenne Wells. Flagler will look to get to Denver but must play their best game.
Region 11
#14 Eads over #11 Plateau Valley
Plateau Valley finished second in the 2A/1A Western Slope. They cruised down the back half of the year and that is my concern for Plateau Valley. They have not played the toughest schedule, and we will see if that affects them. Eads now have full focus from their softball girls and could be a team to watch. Eads played Prairie tough going 5 and defeated Otis down the stretch. Honestly, I could see this region going in either direction.
Region 12
#13 Caliche over #12 Pikes Peak Christian
The matchup to watch IMO just ahead of the Eads vs Plateau Valley matchup. Caliche has beaten the top teams this year and played a tough schedule. Pikes Peak Christian rolled thru their league schedule and defeated 3A Vanguard. Not sure if the weaker schedule could hurt Pikes Peak Christian but this could be one of the better matchups of regionals.
MileHigh Prep Report 