CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW – WEEKEND
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
This weekend in Class 1A has some incredible tournament schedules, as well as a few big clashes for top-10 teams in the recent MHPR rankings. Here’s our look at the matches featuring those top-10 squads.
FRIDAY
#2 MCCLA VE (5-2) AT #10 STRATTON (4-0)
McClave got its fourth straight win, all in sweeps, by beating Cheyenne Wells 25-9/12/8 on Tuesday. That was the High Plains opener for the Lady Cardinals, who step out of league play with the road trip to Stratton. It’s been a week since Stratton was on the court, with the Lady Eagles sweeping Calhan last Friday. Kinsleigh Brachtenbach led the way with 17 kills, and Rilynn Weickum added eight kills. Gracie Miltenberger put together a night of seven kills, six aces, and 20 assists. Kennedy Henschel recorded a team-leading 13 digs. Stratton has won three of the last four meetings in the series, but the most recent match-up went to McClave in the 2024 state tourney.
#4 GRANADA (5-0) AT MANZANOLA (1-1)
Granada rolled to its fourth straight sweep victory on Thursday, downing Las Animas 25-10/11/16. Camryn Coleman went for 19 kills, four total blocks, and 10 digs. Dayzriana Quintana, Kinsley Williams, and Rhyelin Harper all added five kills apiece. Quintana led the team with 12 digs, while Williams collected 29 assists. Leila Pizarro was in double figures with 11 digs. Manzanola suffered its first loss on Thursday, falling to Miami-Yoder in three sets. Each set was close, with the Lady Bobcats falling 19-25, 18-25, 23-25. These two squads of Lady Bobcats have met 12 times since 2013, with Granada taking 11 of them, including the last six. Last year was a three-set sweep.
#5 SWINK (5-0) VS 2A RYE (3-3)
It’s been a little more than a week since Swink overcame an 0-2 deficit to beat 3A Lamar in five sets. Daisy Heberlie and Emma Gacnik were quite the combination at the net, racking up 22 and 20 kills, respectively. Lauren Taggart registered 34 digs and seven aces, and Kashlyn Blasingame tallied 41 assists. Rye got back into the win column with a four-set victory over Crowley County on Tuesday, as the Lady Thunderbolts bounced back from a four-set loss to Hoehne last Thursday. This will be the first meeting between the former Santa Fe rivals since Swink dropped to 1A. The Lady Lions hold a 14-12 edge in the MaxPreps, thanks to two tough five-set victories over Rye last year.
#7 CALICHE (6-3) AT WELDON V ALLEY (4-4)
Caliche backed up last weekend’s win over Fleming with a four-set victory at Haxtun on Tuesday. The teams split the first two sets, with the Lady Buffs taking the first 25-20, and Haxtun tying the match with a 25-23 second. Caliche then put it away 25-21 and 25-15. Weldon Valley went into Thursday’s NCL contest against Briggsdale on the heels of a sweep of Hanover last Friday. Bentley Hickey (10) and Joey Harding (9) combined for 19 kills in that win last week. Gracie Eiring added 27 assists and seven aces, and Isabella Petrino matched her with seven aces. Weldon Valley has the 18-10 edge in the series since 2007, but Caliche has taken the last two.
#9 PRAIRIE (4-2) VS BRIGGSDALE (3-4)
Prairie picked up its third consecutive victory on Thursday with a 3-1 win at Fleming. It was just the second decision over the Lady Wildcats for the Lady Mustangs in the last 52 meetings. Prairie will look to gain a second straight win in the NCL when it travels to Briggsdale. No scores have been provided from Briggsdale’s league match against Weldon Valley on Thursday. The Lady Falcons rode a 3-1 loss to 2A #10 Heritage Christian on Tuesday into their match with the Lady Warriors. All four sets were decided byno more than four points. Prairie won two four-setters last year to even the series with Briggsdale at 21 wins apiece since MaxPreps began tracking volleyball in 2007.
SATURDAY
#1 SIMLA (5-1) VS 2A BYERS (3-2) AT DENVER CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT
Simla rides into the opening round of the Denver Christian tournament on a five-match winning streak, thanks to a sweep of 2A #8 Merino last Saturday. Carlee Cox (14) and Haylee Easler (11) combined for 25 kills, while Trenna Kochera (18) and Kinlee Cox (15) racked up a combined 33 assists. Before Byers gets to this match-up with Simla, it must go through Holyoke on Friday. The Lady Bulldogs snapped a two-match slide on Tuesday with a sweep of Strasburg. Simla has won four straight against Byers, and 16 of the last 20 in the series. The tournament also includes 2A #5 Lyons, 2A #4 Vail Christian, 2A #3 Dolores, Sanford, Ignacio, and the hosts.
#3 SARGENT (4-0) VS 2A CENTER (5-4)
Saturday will see Sargent in its first action since sweeping Primero last Saturday. The Lady Farmers won that match 25-15/13/13, and they have only lost one set so far this season. Center has lost its last two matches, including a sweep defeat at the hands of Sanford on Thursday. The Lady Vikings dropped that one by scores of 22-25, 22-25, and 21-25. Sargent has won 22 straight against Center, and 24 of 25 in the MaxPreps era.
#6 HI-PLAINS (4-0) AT BRIGGSDALE
Hi-Plains has been busy this week, already stacking up 3-0 wins over 2A Limon and Washington County. Cambria Seaman (11) and Brianna Rueb (9) combined for 20 kills in the match against Limon, and Addison Richards tallied 24 assists. In Thursday’s win at Washington County, the Lady Patriots only allowed a total of 30 points. Briggsdale has won four of five against Hi-Plains, but the Lady Patriots got their win in a sweep last year.
#8 PLATEAU V ALLEY (5-0) AT EV ANGEL CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT
Plateau Valley lost its first sets of the season last Saturday, but the Cowgirls remained unbeaten overall with the five-set win over Meeker. They led 2-1, but needed a 15-13 win in the fifth to earn the match victory. Siena Fino recorded 32 digs, while Morgann Miller (21) and Bailee Taylor (14) combined for 35 assists. Many of those went the way of Vivian Arthur and Ava Johnson, who went for 13 and 10 kills, respectively. The Cowgirls have matches scheduled against 2A #8 ECA, #12 Cheraw, and 2A #11 Akron
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