CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW – REGIONALS
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With the regular season completed, Class 1A volleyball is down to just 24 teams left in the fight. By the end of play on Saturday, that number will be pared to 12, setting the state tournament field. We take a look at each of the 12 regional pairings before they get started on Thursday.
REGION ONE AT SIMLA HS SATURDAY 10AM
#1 SIMLA (22-1) VS #24 PEETZ (11-12)
Simla finished the regular season on a 22-match winning streak, without dropping a set along the way. The Lady Cubs avenged their only loss to 2A #3 Vail Christian during the winning streak. Carlee Cox led the team with 297 kills during the season, and the Lady Cubs also got triple digit kills from Brynlee Amendt (182), Haylee Easler (166), and Trenna Kochera (152). As a team, Simla served 245 aces, with seven players registering at least 32. Ava Leininger led five players with triple digit digs, with 195 on the season. Amendt (166), C. Cox (141), Kinlee Cox (123), and Kochera (112) followed. K. Cox led with 428 assists, and Kochera added 395. H. Easler led the net defense with 57 total blocks, and Shayne Easler tallied 36 total blocks.
It’s been a big year for Peetz, who recorded double figure wins for the first time since 2013, and got its first North Central League victories since 2017. The Lady Bulldogs qualified for regionals for the first time in the MaxPreps era. Nataleigh Kalb is the leader on the attack, having registered 255 kills. Ella Pejsa (159), Joslynn Pennington (144), and Jaidynn Reiman (134) all added triple digits. Reiman has 50 of the team’s 208 aces, with Kalb and Trinity Moreno each tallying 35. Kalb has already topped 300 digs, as she’ll enter the match with 304 for the season. Reiman is at 277, while Pennington and Aleah Schumacher are at 235 and 213, respectively. Pejsa and Rylee Raffelson have each collected 167. Raffelson is just six assists shy of 400 for the year, and Reiman has chipped in 259. Pejsa is the top blocker with 50.
Simla and Peetz are playing for the first time in the MaxPreps era.
REGION TWO AT MCCLAVE HS SATURDAY 10AM
#2 MCCLAVE (18-5) VS #23 HOLLY (13-10)
McClave finished third in the High Plains, with losses to #3 Swink and #4 Cheraw in league play. The other losses for the Lady Cardinals came against Simla (twice), and 2A #1 Wiggins. They finished the season with three straight sweeps after the loss to Cheraw. Avery Hemphill is second in Class 1A with 364 kills, and Blaire Howe is the only other player on the team with more than 100, checking in with 190. Myla Oquist (89) and Addison Vallejos (81) have combined for 170. Hemphill has 48 of the team’s 182 aces, and Oquist has served 45. McClave has two back row defenders with more than 300 digs, as Howe (308) and Hemphill (305) lead the team. Kashlee Randel possesses 271, while Yesenia Almanza and Vallejos are at 208 and 202, respectively. Almanza is second in 1A with 692 assists, and Vallejos is third in the classification, and eighth in the state, with 108 blocks.
It was a break-out season for Holly, who won double digit matches for the first time since 2018. The Lady Wildcats had not recorded more than eight victories in a season since. This is their first trip to the postseason since that season, that which concluded with a 2A state tournament appearance. Holly’s top three hitters, Allison Rushton (186), Lilly Parker (108), and Anayi Cerros (90) have combined for 384 kills. The team is just seven aces shy of 200 on the season, with Rushton and Cerros leading the way at 48 and 40, respectively. Nati Garrido is sixth in 1A with 428 digs, and Cerros has added 294. Parker (179), Luci Schwab (152), Makynna Neugebauer (149), and Rushton (126) give the Lady Wildcats six players with triple digit digs. Parker and Neugebauer share setting duties, and they have recorded 217 and 175 assists, respectively. Parker also has 49 total blocks.
McClave and Holly did not play this year, but have met 27 times in the MaxPreps era. The Lady Cards have won eight straight in the series, including a sweep last season.
REGION THREE AT SWINK HS FRIDAY 5PM
#3 SWINK (21-2) VS #22 ROCKY MOUNTAIN LUTHERAN (17-6)
Swink dropped to 1A this cycle and won the High Plains championship. The Lady Lions lost to #5 Granada in league play, and also fell to Simla in the regular season finale. They have several wins against highly-ranked foes, including five-set victories over McClave and Cheraw, and a sweep of #7 Hi-Plains. Swink has two of the top hitters in the classification with Daisy Heberlie sitting third at 358, and Emma Gacnik eighth at 320. Lexi Morgan is next on the team with 78. The Lady Lions have served 225 aces, 51 by Heberlie. Larriana Taggart has 42, and Gacnik has 40. Taggart is seventh in 1A with 426 digs, and recently went over 2000 for her career. Gacnik (239) and Heberlie (205) are both over 200 on the season, and Kashlyn Blasingame has 176 to go with 668 assists. The latter is good for fourth in 1A this season. Heberlie is the top net defender with 45 blocks.
Rocky Mountain Lutheran won the 5280 title during the regular season, but fell to #17 Mile High Academy in the league tournament. The Lady Eagles have their highest win total since grabbing 18 back in 2017, and they’re in regionals for the first time since that season. Katelyn Brekken leads the team with 215 kills, and the sophomore is followed by Kathryn Shade at 128, and Jadyn Morgan with 101. The Lady Eagles have recorded an astounding 445 aces thus far, including 108 by Morgan, who leads the classification. Brekken is fourth in the class with 85, while Alexis Irsik (83) is fifth, and Aliyah Trujillo (71) is tied for ninth. Sofia Meza-Villa leads the back row with 264 digs, and she’s followed by Morgan (200), Trujillo (150), and Brekken (111). Morgan and Trujillo both have more than 200 assists, as they’ve registered 269 and 212, respectively. Brekken has 54 blocks, and no one else has more than four.
This is the first meeting between these two programs since MaxPreps began tracking volleyball in 2007.
REGION FOUR AT CHERAW HS FRIDAY 5PM
#4 CHERAW (18-4) VS #21 PRIMERO (17-6)
Cheraw has been a postseason mainstay lately, and the Lady Wolverines are back after taking second in the High Plains behind Swink. They had signature wins over McClave, Granada, Hi-Plains, and #9 Plateau Valley, to go with losses to Simla, Swink, Hi-Plains, and 2A #5 Evangel Christian. The Cheraw attack is headed up by three talented sophomores, with Bristyl Barratt (273), Tinley Leake (213), and Tristyn White (112) all in triple digit kills. Leake and Barratt lead the team with 45 and 41 aces, respectively. As a team Cheraw has 226. Their back line defense has five players with more than 100 digs, led by Emi-Lee Marquez with 221. Barratt has 212, while White (207), Leake (172), and Raimy Sisson (136) round out the group. Sisson is just outside of the top-ten in the class with 456 assists. The block is led by Barratt (31), White (30), and Leake (29).
Primero won its second straight Fishers Peak title, and is in the postseason for a third consecutive season. The Lady Bulldogs did not face a lot of top competition, but did earn a win over 2A regional qualifier Sanford. Their attack focuses on two hitters, Jaleysia Atkins and Jaelie Bowie, who have 189 and 153 kill, respectively. The team is just one ace shy of 200, with Atkins tied for ninth in the class with 71. Atkins is ranked in the top-20 with 352 digs, and the Lady Bulldogs have a number of other defenders with triple digits. Bowie leads that group with 224, followed by Alyvia Robinson (205), Elena Sandoval (199), Alexa Maldonado (152), and Shyla Cordova (126). Maldonado is the primary setter with 380 assists.
REGION FIVE AT GRANADA HS SATURDAY 9AM
#5 GRANADA (19-4) VS #20 BRIGGSDALE (12-11)
After making an appearance at state last year, Granada is one victory away from a repeat trip to the Denver Coliseum. The Lady Bobcats have recorded their fourth straight winning campaign after not having one in the MaxPreps era prior to the current run. They had top-10 wins over Swink, Hi-Plains, and #10 Caliche, and losses to McClave, Cheraw, and 2A ECA. Sophomore Camryn Coleman leads 1A with 457 kills, 93 more than second place, and is second in all of Colorado. Dayzriana Quintana is second on the team with 151, while Rhyelin Harper (90), and Emri Marquez (88) aren’t far from reaching triple figures. Kinsley Williams has 43 of the team’s 184 aces, and she leads 1A with 707 assists. That’s good for 7th statewide. Granada has six players with more than 100 digs, five of them over 200. Quintana leads the category with 291, and she’s followed by Coleman (250), Leila Pizarro (250), Marquez (228), Williams (200), and Nicole Melendez (176). Coleman is second in 1A with 109 blocks, also putting her seventh in the entire state.
Briggsdale had made six straight trips to state prior to last year, and the Lady Falcons, second place finishers in the North Central, are looking to start a new streak. All 11 of their losses this year were to regional qualifiers in either 1A or 2A, and they own a win over 2A #11 Holyoke. Alana Sullivan leads the team with 199 kills, and Bailey Loyd has 159. Kendra Burns is the third option, and she’s collected 81 kills. Briggsdale has 165 aces, 44 by Sloan Benson, who also leads the team with 480 assists, which is 10th most in 1A. Sawyer Malcom-Dunfee is the leader on the back row with 278 digs. Sullivan has 208, and Loyd is at 190. Benson has tallied 176, and Amanda Tolbert’s at 139.
This will be the first meeting between Granada and Briggsdale in the MaxPreps era.
REGION SIX AT SARGENT HS FRIDAY 10AM
#6 SARGENT (19-4) VS #19 WILEY (15-8)
Sargent is one victory away from a third straight 20-win season in as many tries since dropping to 1A last cycle. The Lady Farmers qualified for state each of the last two seasons. The champs of the Southern Peaks went 9-4 against regional qualifiers between 1A and 3A, 3-0 against teams in this field. Kandace Pargin is 10th in 1A with 306 kills on the season, but the attack has more depth behind her. Denver Holman checks in with 139 kills, followed by Kimberly Pargin (100), Zoey Barlow (87), and Aubree Ullery (84). Ullery and Kandace Pargin have served 53 and 52 aces, respectively. The Lady Farmers have 217 as a squad. Holman is the top defender, leading the team with 225 digs. Kandace Pargin has 214, while Audrina Knorr (176), Ullery (172), and Kimberly Pargin (165) are also in triple digits. Ullery is sixth in 1A with 554 assists, and the Lady Farmers are led at the net by Emily Capron with 34 blocks, and Barlow with 30.
Wiley is back in the regional round for the first time since 2022, and the Lady Panthers have their highest win total since that season. That was the last of four consecutive state tournament appearances. Their best win of the season may have been the first, when they beat #12 Flagler 2-1. Their only other wins over regional qualifiers were against 2A #32 Las Animas, and Holly, and all eight losses were to teams playing in this round. Lylah Reinhardt is their big hitter, racking up 207 kills on the season. Kynlee Dechant is the only other Lady Panther in triple digits with 106, and Jacee Kravig has 86. Of the team’s 240 aces, Dechant has 50, while McKenzie Mapes and Reinhardt have 48 and 41, respectively. They’ve had a busy back row, with Reinhardt (277), Mapes (229), Dechant (219), Kravig (186), and Anistin Gonzales (177) all recording triple digit digs. Kravig and Reinhardt share the setting duties, as they’ve tallied 246 and 179 assists, respectively.
This is the first meeting in the MaxPreps era between Sargent and Wiley.
REGION SEVEN AT HI-PLAINS HS FRIDAY 6PM
#7 HI-PLAINS (17-6) VS #18 ELBERT (17-5)
Hi-Plains won its first outright YWKC title in the time that MaxPreps has tracked volleyball, and the Lady Patriots are in regionals for the fourth straight year. They went to state the previous two. The Lady Patriots went 10-6 in matches against regional qualifiers, with signature wins over Cheraw, Caliche, and Flagler. Cambria Seaman is ninth in 1A with 309 kills, while Brianna Rueb (225), Taylor Hartman (140), and Trista Hartman (129) give Hi-Plains four hitters in triple digits. Directing the attack is Addison Richards, who is third in the classification with 687 assists. Richards also owns 47 of the team’s 219 aces, and Seaman has 41. Six Lady Patriots are in triple figures for digs, led by Seaman with 297, and Maggie Gorton with 256. Others in that group are Rueb (163), Richards (159), Taylor Hartman (147), and LeAnn Tanner (107). Rueb is the top net defender with 33 blocks.
Elbert just missed making regionals each of the last two seasons, but the Lady Bulldog are back in the field for the first time since 2021. They only faced three regional qualifiers this season, and went 1-3. The win came over Rocky Mountain Lutheran, and the losses were to Simla, Prairie, and 2A #19 Byers. Paisley Vandergriff is the leading hitter for Elbert, entering this match with 206 kills on the season. Lily Simmons is next with 126, and then there’s a gap of almost 60 to #3. The Lady Bulldogs have been strong behind the service line, racking up 246 aces, 57 coming from Simmons, and 45 more from Addison Offutt. No one has reached the 200 dig plateau this season for Elbert, but five had at least 100. That group is led by Offutt with 164, and she’s followed by Vandergriff (132), Charlee Winegar (111), Ronni McNamara (104), and Jadyn Schmidt (104). Three players have distributed the ball this season, with Schmidt recording 188 assists, Winegar at 159, and Charlotte Smith at 98.
Hi-Plains and Elbert have not played since 2009. Hi-Plains won that contest, the only one between the programs in the MaxPreps era.
REGION EIGHT AT PRAIRIE HS THURSDAY 6PM
#8 PRAIRIE (18-5) VS #17 MILE HIGH ACADEMY (19-4)
Prairie got its first North Central League crown in the MaxPreps era and the Lady Mustangs are making their third straight appearance in the regional round. It’s their fourth in the last five years and they are looking to make a second consecutive trip to state. Prairie went 8-5 in matches against regional qualifiers, with top wins over Hi-Plains, Caliche, #11 Haxtun, and Flagler. Despite missing a couple of matches late in the season with an injury, Hannah Kugler still finished the regular season fifth in 1A with 328 kills. Macie Jaeger has been a strong complement, as she’s 14th with 272 kills. Kali Sutter (49) and Molly Walker (41) have combined for 90 of the team’s 211 aces, and Walker sits fifth in the classification with 630 assists. Sutter is right outside of the top-10 in 1A with 379 digs. Kugler has 213, while Jaeger (191), Walker (178), and Shaylee Dolan (177) are all in triple digits as well. Kugler has recorded 43 blocks.
After missing the bracket last year, Mile High Academy makes its return to the regional field. The Lady Mustangs were second in the 5280 during the regular season, but avenged an earlier loss to Rocky Mountain Lutheran with a win last weekend in the league tournament. Those were their only two matches against regional qualifiers this season. The Lady Mustangs have three hitters with more than 100 kills, led by Lia Zachawerus with 170. Kylie Helm has 156, and Claire Philpott is at 112. Alaina Hickman has served 48 aces, and Philpott has 45. The team has 267. Hickman paces the back row with 207 digs, while Genesis Hernandez (160), Kirana Muntu (114), Philpott (109), Helm (105), and Zachawerus (102) have joined her in triple digits. Hickman is seventh in 1A with 528 assists.
These two squads of Lady Mustangs have not met during the MaxPreps era.
REGION NINE AT PLATEAU VALLEY HS SATURDAY 11AM
#9 PLATEAU VALLEY (17-6) VS #16 SOUTH BACA (18-5)
This is the second straight year that Plateau Valley has made the regional round, and it’s the fifth time in the last six years for the Cowgirls in the postseason. They were second in the Western Slope this season, with their only league loss coming against 2A Vail Christian. The Cowgirls were 7-6 against regional qualifiers, with most of the matches being against schools in larger classifications. While only two players have more than 100 kills, five have at least 85. Vivian Arthur leads with 253, and she’s followed by Ava Johnson (165), Presley Hawkins (95), Macy Bevan (90), and Shelby Blanck (85). Siena Fino (54) and Arthur (50) have combined for more than half of the team’s 207 aces. Morgann Miller checks in at #15 in 1A with 407 assists, and Johnson has a team-high 43 blocks. Fino is just one dig away from 300 for the season, and three other Cowgirls join her in triple figures. Arthur (114), Zailyn Varela Castillo (109), and Johnson (103) complete the group, and Miller is only 10 away from joining them.
South Baca made its third consecutive unbeaten run through the Arkansas Valley to win the league title and earn a third straight regional berth. The Lady Patriots were 5-5 against regional qualifiers, with two of the wins coming against Wiley. Sarah Elmore has been very good in her senior season, ranking fourth in 1A with 344 kills, and 17th in blocks with 53. Abigail Anderson is second on the team with 148 kills, and Annabelle Anderson has 90. Annabelle Anderson has registered 295 assists, while Brielle Bond has added 258. South Baca has served 223 aces, 67 from Mary Brewer, putting her 13th in the classification. Brewer is also ninth in 1A with 393 digs. Elmore follows her with 278, while Annabelle Anderson (191), Bond (174), and Abigail Anderson (161) are also in triple figures.
With the major separation in miles between these two programs, it’s not very surprising that this is the first meeting during the MaxPreps era.
REGION TEN AT CALICHE HS FRIDAY 5PM
#10 CALICHE (15-8) VS #15 STRATTON (14-9)
Prior to last season, Caliche had not posted a winning record since 2015. The Lady Buffs made it to state in 2025, and are looking for a return trip. They went 3-4 and finished fifth in the LPAA, which is sending seven of its eight teams to regionals between 1A and 2A. All seven are serving as hosts. Overall, the Lady Buffs went 6-8 against regional teams. Faye Lueck and Alexis Breidenbach finished the regular season with 228 kills apiece, and Ellie Willis added 130. Lily Armstrong (85) and Elizabeth Girdler (81) give depth to the attack. Armstrong splits setting duties with Aniston Marostica, and they’ve recorded 366 and 335 assists, respectively. Breidenbach leads with 53 of the team’s 257 aces, and she’s second on the squad with 272 digs, trailing only Hayden Walker, who leads 1A with 483. Lueck’s at 240, with Armstrong and Marostica following with 158 and 125, respectively. Lueck also has 57 blocks.
Stratton saw its run of five straight Union Pacific titles snapped, as the Lady Eagles finished second to Flagler this year. Including their time as a co-op, the Lady Eagles had won the league six consecutive years. The program last missed regionals in 2018. All nine of their losses this season came against regional qualifiers, but they also picked up four wins against top teams. Kinsleigh Brachtenbach is sixth in 1A with 327 kills, and Rilynn Weickum is 15th with 267. Gracie Miltenberger is the only other player close to triple digits with 82. However, Miltenberger is 13th in the classification with 431 assists, and she shares duties with Kaylynn Brandon (254). Stratton has served 182 aces, 37 by Brandon, and 34 each by Layla Bancroft and Miltenberger. Defensively, Kennedy Henschel is fifth in 1A with 430 digs. Brachtenbach has 206, and the Lady Eagles have also received triple digits from Miltenberger (187), Bancroft (148), and Brandon (123).
Caliche beat Stratton twice last year, including a five-set victory at state for the Lady Buffs. Stratton got a win in 2024, but Caliche leads the series 3-1 since 2012.
REGION ELEVEN AT HAXTUN HS SATURDAY 1PM
#11 HAXTUN (15-8) VS #14 EADS (11-8)
It’s been a decade since Haxtun failed to qualify for the postseason, as they Fightin’ Lady Bulldogs even made the bracket last year with a losing record. They were fourth in the tough LPAA, All of their losses were to regional qualifiers, and seven of their wins came against teams playing this weekend. Ashlyn Wolff leads a balanced attack with 234 kills, just ahead of Leah Edwards with 212. Lily Firme has added 136, while Scarlett Crossland is at 121, and Emma Lemesany has 89. Haxtun has two strong setters, with Crossland tallying 320 assists, and Haylie Carpenter adding 318. Edwards is in the top-20 defenders in the classification with her 335 digs. Crossland has posted 260, while Wolff (255), Peyton Biesemeier (231), Carpenter (164), and Torrie Wernsman (137) are also in triple digits. Wolff is ninth in 1A with 67 blocks, and she’s served 34 of the team’s 169 aces.
Eads was hit by a significant loss to injury in the offseason, as senior standout Anna Wollert missed the entire campaign after having shoulder surgery. The Lady Eagles rallied and earned a fifth straight trip to the postseason. They went 4-8 against regional teams, with a big win over Hi-Plains on the ledger. Jordynn Turcotte was top two in almost every category for the Lady Eagles this season, leading them in kills (163), aces (58), blocks (28), and standing second with 230 assists. Aspen Nelson has been right there with her, having recorded 160 kills, 25 blocks, and 240 assists. The attack is deepened by Bailey Sierra with 123 kills, and Emma Wollert with 121. Eads has a scrappy back row, with four players having more than 300 digs, and two more over 200. Sierra is 12th in the class with 372, followed by E. Wollert in 18th with 346. Nelson has 315, and Aubrey Mitchek has 312, putting them 24th and 25th in the state. Peyton Eder’s at 291, and Turcotte has 223.
These teams have only played once before in the MaxPreps era, with Haxtun taking a win in 2021.
REGION TWELVE AT FLAGLER HS FRIDAY 5PM
#12 FLAGLER (16-7) VS #13 OTIS (17-6)
After breaking a four-year postseason drought with last year’s regional appearance, Flagler has made it two straight seasons in the bracket. The Lady Panthers won their first Union Pacific title since 2014. They were just 4-4 through their first eight, but then reeled off seven straight victories to get into the mix to host. Flagler was 8-6 against regional teams. Rylie Berry leads the attack with 326 kills, ranking her seventh in 1A. Sydnie Berry has added 217, and Clara Hermes is at 101. Flagler employs two setters, with Elexx Lahm having 326 assists, and Kenzie Schulte adding 317. The team has 149 aces on the season, 49 by S. Berry. Lahm is in the top-25 in 1A for digs with 317. S. Berry has 279, while R. Berry is right behind her with 274. Schulte has 230, Hermes has 202, and Jenna Schier is at 201.
Otis has been almost automatic when it comes to making the postseason. The Lady Bulldogs have at least made regionals every season since MaxPreps began tracking volleyball in 2007. They were second in the YWKC with their only league loss coming to Hi-Plains. Otis went 5-6 against teams in the postseason. Kensley Packer is just outside of the top-10 in kills in 1A, standing 11th with 301. Kaydence Headden has added 177, and Lydia Willeke stands at 85 on the season. Hattie Price has guided the attack with 470 assists, good for ninth-most in 1A. Packer is also the team leader in aces with 52, one ahead of Karsyn Ringlein, and digs (242). Willeke has tallied 196 digs, and Raya Grimes-Routh has 193. Headden is just two back of her, and Ringlein is at 188. Price is also in triple figures, coming in with 153.
These two met during the early part of the regular season, with Otis claiming a five-set win on Flagler’s home court. The Lady Bulldogs trailed big in both of the first two sets, only to come back and win both. Flagler forced the fifth by taking the next two. Flagler won in five sets at Otis last year.
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