CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL REPORT – CHASE TO HOST
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
As the regular season enters its penultimate week, just over half of the potential regional hosts look to be set. The top-eight teams in the CHSAA rankings have seen some small movements, but those teams have gained a good bit of separation from the rest of the pack. Teams sitting in spots nine through 16 at the start of the week all have shots at gaining one of the last four hosting positions. Here is our look at the week ahead for those squads.
#9 PRAIRIE (14-5)
Prairie has been inside the top-10 almost all season and the Lady Mustangs have a very good shot at remaining there. With top-hitter Hannah Kugler sidelined with an injury, they suffered their first NCL loss to #27 Peetz in four sets last Friday. Prairie has Potter-Dix (NE) at home on Thursday, and will also host #48 Bethune on Saturday.
#10 CALICHE (12-7)
Caliche has also spent most of the season in the top-10, and with a high strength of schedule (SOS), the Lady Buffs also have a pretty good chance of hosting a regional. Caliche broke a two-match losing streak with wins over #28 Nucla and #29 Creede last Saturday. This week sees the Lady Buffs hosting 2A #3 Merino in LPAA action on Tuesday, and traveling to #25 Briggsdale on Saturday.
#11 HAXTUN (13-7)
Haxtun was sitting in a traveling position for regionals last week, but five-set wins over #14 Otis and 2A #12 Akron pushed the Fightin’ Lady Bulldogs into one of the last hosting spots. They have non-league matches this week with #23 Idalia at home on Tuesday, and on the road at #15 Stratton on Saturday.
#12 EADS (10-7)
Eads got its third win in its last four matches with a sweep of #43 Cheyenne Wells last Friday. The only loss in the stretch was to #2 McClave in four sets last Tuesday. The Lady Eagles have this week off and won’t play again until next Thursday.
#13 FLAGLER (14-7)
Flagler has been hanging around a hosting position for most of the season, and even spent some time in the top-10. The Lady Panthers had lost two straight before sweeping #33 Kiowa last Friday. They are off this week and will have a chance to lock up the title in the Union Pacific next Tuesday when they travel to 2A #21 Burlington.
#14 OTIS (14-6)
It wasn’t all that long ago that Otis owned a hosting spot, but the five-set loss to Haxtun last week changed that. The Lady Bulldogs bounced back with a sweep of Idalia in YWKC league play last Friday, securing second place in the league. That was their fourth win in the last five outings. Otis will host #36 Weldon Valley on Tuesday, and Peetz on Friday.
#15 STRATTON (12-6)
Stratton is coming off a wild week in which it beat 2A #28 Byers in Union Pacific play in five sets last Tuesday, and then lost in five sets at 2A #5 Sedgwick County on Friday. The fifth set in the latter of those went 19-17. The Lady Eagles still have a shot at earning a share of the UP title, as they host Burlington on Tuesday. A win by Stratton and then a Flagler loss to Burlington next Tuesday would create a three-waytie atop the standings. Stratton will also host Haxtun on Saturday in a match that could cause a significant jostling in the CHSAA rankings.
#16 SOUTH BACA (15-5)
South Baca is on a three-match winning streak after sweeping #61 Kim/Branson and #44 Manzanola last week. The Lady Patriots have won eight of their last nine overall, with the only loss coming against #4 Granada two weeks ago. The only action for South Baca this week is an Arkansas Valley league match at #51 Walsh.
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