VOLLEYBALL - CLASS 1A CAPSULES
It has been the Otis and Fleming show in the Class 1A state volleyball tournament over the past five years. The two have combined to win the last five state championships. Otis took their turn in their winners circle last year rallying from two sets down to beat Fleming for the title. Otis also won the crown in 2009 with Fleming winning the Gold Ball in 2009, 2008 and 2007. Both teams are back in Denver and among the favorites again this year but Weldon Valley is the top seed in the bracket going in.
WELDON VALLEY WARRIORS
· Won North Central (10-0) by two games over Fleming – ended Wildcats five year run in conference
· Wildcard – lost to Caliche (4) in regionals / beat Community Christian (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Flagler, Caliche (2), Greeley Central, Mountain View, Mead, Fleming (2), Pawnee (3)
· LOSSES: Akron, Caliche
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-0) – Beat Caliche 3-2 in district tournament
· Dropped only 4 sets in 24 wins / loss to Caliche last week first against 1A team this year
· TOP PLAYERS
o Kelsea Eskew – 266 kills / 62 blocks
o Rachel McCracken – 255 kills / 84 aces
o Kasi Headley – 156 kills
o Morgan Norris – 51 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2000 (beat Flagler 2-0 after losing to them in pool play)
· PLAYOFF NOTE: First appearance since 2009 and third overall / Lost to Fleming in semifinals in 2009 / all-time state tournament record is 6-3
EADS EAGLES (19-5)
· Won Hi Plains Title (4-0) by one game over Kit Carson
· Region 2 Champion / beat McClave (4) and Kim (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Kit Carson (2), Wiley, Flagler, McClave (3),
· LOSSES: Springfield, Holly, Stratton, Hi Plains (2)
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (3-1) W: Kit Carson, Wiley, Flagler / L: Holly
· Won final 5 matches following 2nd loss to Hi Plains / 3 of 5 losses to state qualifiers
· TOP PLAYERS
o Tanaia Hansen – 316 kills
o Marisa Dixon – 180 kills / 201 blocks
o Eboni Nash – 128 kills / 116 blocks
o Kailyn Lane – 33 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: First tournament appearance since 1992 / Last tournament win in 1992 (beat Revere 2-0 in semifinals) / lost in championship match in both 1991 and 1992
DOVE CREEK BULLDOGS (16-8)
· Finished 5th in San Juan (4-6)
· Region 1 Champion / Beat Cotopaxi (3) and La Veta (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Edison, Ignacio,
· LOSSES: Dolores, Telluride (2), Norwood (3), Mancos, Nucla
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (3-1) W: Ridgway, UT school, Plateau Valley / L: Nucla
· Opened season 8-0 / split last 16 matches
· TOP PLAYERS
o Shelbie Knuckles – 260 kills
o Madison Young – 126 kills / 64 aces
o Jessica Guynes – 111 kills
o Madison McCourt – 108 kills
o Corissa Guynes – 62 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Only previous tournament win in 2008 (Beat Liberty 3-2) / third appearance overall – also went 0-3 in 2005 event
CALICHE BUFFALOES (18-7)
· Finished 2nd in Lower Platte (7-1) – only league loss to Akron
· Region 2 Champion / beat Weldon Valley (4) and Community Christian (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Otis, Holyoke, Pawnee (2), Merino, Yuma, Weldon Valley
· LOSSES: Weldon Valley (2), Akron (2), Fleming (3)
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (4-2) W: Otis, Holyoke, Pawnee, Yuma / L: Fleming, Weldon Valley
· All 7 losses to state championship contenders in Class 1A or 2A
· TOP PLAYERS
o Hannah Yahn – 153 kills / 32 aces
o Rachel Edler – 143 kills
o Sami Morgan – 123 kills / 125 blocks
o Megan Pierce – 101 kills / 98 blocks
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2000 (2A)
· PLAYOFF NOTE: First visit to state since 2007 / lost to Fleming 3-2 in state semifinals that year / all-time tournament record 11-11
STRATTON EAGLES (20-5)
· Finished fourth in Union Pacific (5-3) – finished behind Byers, Flagler & Burlington
· Wildcard: Lost to Hi Plains (4) in regionals / beat Edison (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Eads, Idalia, Hi Plains, Flagler (2), Burlington, Kit Carson, Elbert,
· LOSSES: Flagler, Hi Plains (2), Byers, Burlington
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (2-0) W: Kit Carson, Flagler
· Went 2-1 against Flagler during season / will meet them in pool play / 4 of 5 losses to state qualifiers
· TOP PLAYERS
o Complete Stats Not Reported to MaxPreps
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Only previous appearance in 1987 / 2-1 that year to finish fifth / beat Ridgway 2-1 to win 5th place trophy
o Liberty qualified in 2008 and went 1-2 in pool play to not advance / program is combination of players from Stratton and Liberty high school
FLAGLER PANTHERS (13-11)
· Finished second in Union Pacific (tied with Burlington at 4-2) – two games back of Byers
· Wildcard – Lost to Otis (4) in regionals / beat Idalia (5)
· QUALITY WINS: Stratton, Burlington, Idalia (2), Kit Carson, Edison
· LOSSES: Weldon Valley, Simla, Byers, Hi Plains (2), Otis (2), Stratton (2), Merino, Eads,
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (4-2) W: Cheyenne Wells, Burlington, Idalia (2) / L: Eads, Stratton
· Played maybe the most difficult schedule of any 1A Team / won 7 of last 9 matches
· TOP PLAYERS
o Morgan Oestman – 166 kills / 54 blocks
o Melissa Poet – 133 kills / 69 blocks
o Jade Hasz – 30 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992
· PLAYOFF NOTE: First appearance since 2007 / lost to Fleming in the finals that year / that season finished off a string of 18 consecutive tournament appearance / all-time tournament record (63-29)
OTIS BULLDOGS (21-3)
· Won YWKC championship (6-0) by two games over Hi Plains
· Region 3 Champion / Beat Flagler (4) and Idalia (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Hi Plains (2), Yuma, Merino, Flagler (2), Idalia (3)
· LOSSES: Caliche, Resurrection Christian, Akron
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-2) W: Hi Plains / L: Caliche, Resurrection Christian
· Won 14 straight matches since 3-set loss to Akron on September 22nd
· TOP PLAYERS
o Haley Patterson – 271 kills
o Antonya Schaffert – 166 kills / 64 aces
o Emily Palser – 160 kills / 65 aces / 48 blocks
o Kelcy Davis – 105 kills
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2011, 2009, 2002, 1998 (Defending state champion)
· PLAYOFF NOTES: 18 tournament wins, two championships and two 2nd place finishes in the last four years – only tournament losses in that span to Fleming in 2010 and 2008 championship matches / all-time tournament record (42-23) / 8th consecutive tournament appearance / played in last four state finals
NORWOOD MAVERICKS (16-3)
· Won San Juan League championship by one game over Dolores (2A)
· Region 5 Champion / Beat Vail Christian (3) and Centennial (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Dove Creek (3), Mancos, Telluride (2)
· LOSSES: Paonia, Dolores, Mancos
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (3-0) – W: Nucla, Ridgway, Telluride
· Opened season 1-2 but won 15 of last 16 matches
· TOP PLAYERS
o Harlie Williams – 53 kills
o Shania Snow – 33 aces
o Kelsey Rowe – 32 blocks
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
· PLAYOFF NOTE: 3rd straight tournament appearance and 4th overall / went 1-2 in pool in each of the previous two years / never reached semifinals / tournament wins over Pawnee (last year) and McClave (2010)
KIT CARSON WILDCATS (14-10)
· Finished 2nd in High Plains League (3-1) – one game back of Eads
· Wildcard: Lost to Wiley (5) in regionals / beat Walsh (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Burlington, Idalia, Merino, McClave, Wiley
· LOSSES: Hi Plains (3), Idalia, Eads (2), Burlington, Stratton, Flagler, Wiley
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-5 W: Burlington / L: Idalia, Eads, Stratton, Hi Plains, Wiley
· Won 4 straight to open the season / longest winning streak of the season
· TOP PLAYERS
o Stats Not Reported to MaxPreps
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2006 (beat Fleming 3-2)
· PLAYOFF NOTES: First tournament visit since winning title in 2006 / all-time tournament record (17-16) / Also reached finals and finished second in 1995 / reached semifinals five times
HI PLAINS PATRIOTS (20-4)
· Finished 2nd in YWKC (2 games back of first place Otis
· Region 7 Champion / beat Edison (3) and Stratton (4)
· QUALITY WINS: Kit Carson (3), Flagler (2), Stratton (2), Eads (2), Idalia (2), Edison
· LOSSES: Bethune (Forfeit), Otis (2), Stratton
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-1) W: Kit Carson / L: Otis
· Won 11 of last 12 matches (Loss to Otis)
· TOP PLAYERS
o Amy Trujillo – 59 kills
o Kaitlyn Richie – 22 kills
o Brea Thomson – 31 kills
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2003 (Beat McClave 3-2)
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Only third tournament appearance since 1995 (2009, 2003) / Lost to Otis 3-2 in 2009 semifinals / all-time tournament record (15-10)
FLEMING WILDCATS (18-8)
· Finished 2nd in North Central (8-2) – 2 back of Weldon Valley
· Region 4 Champion / Beat Jim Elliot (3) and Rocky Mountain Lutheran (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Pawnee (3), Goodland KS, Caliche (3), Merino
· LOSSES: Colorado Academy, St Mary’s, Manitou Springs, Weldon Valley (3), Akron, Sterling
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (2-1) W: Pawnee, Caliche / L: Sterling
· Only losses to 1A Opponent are the three setbacks to Weldon Valley – all others against 2A, 3A or out of state opponents
· TOP PLAYERS
o Taylor King – 295 kills / 55 aces
o Abby Kurtzer – 223 kills
o Timmi Keisel – 106 kills
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2010, 2008, 2007 (won 3 of past 5 titles)
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Played in the last six state championship matches / since 2006 have compiled a record of 27-3 with three state titles and three runner-up finishes / losses in that span to Otis (twice) and Kit Carson / won 18 consecutive pool matches/ played Otis in last four state finals (2-2) / before 2006, had just one tournament win (1981)
WILEY PANTHERS (17-7)
· Won Ark Valley Title (4-0) by one game over 2A Springfield
· Region 6 Champion / Beat Walsh (4) and Kit Carson (5)
· QUALITY WINS: Las Animas, McClave (2), Lamar, Kit Carson
· LOSSES: Simla, Swink, Alamosa, Fowler, Eads, Kit Carson, Springfield
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (4-2 W: McClave, Granada, Lamar, Kit Carson / L: Eads, Springfield
· Only 1A losses to Eads and Kit Carson (all others vs 2A or 3A opponents) / lost 3 straight at end of September
· TOP PLAYERS
o Stats Not Reported to MaxPreps
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: 4th consecutive appearance and only four in school history / lost to Fleming (3-0) in semifinals last year / all-time state record (2-8) – wins against Norwood (3-2) last year and Mountain Valley (3-0) in 2009
Comments
I know you can't report all of the stats, but a kill starts with a dig and a set. I haven't seen all of the teams play, but I know that some of these teams are very good @ digging and setting too. In fact, the digging is about as good as I have ever seen it in the games I have seen. The girls on all teams are really perfecting their games. The introduction of the libero no doubt has aided this. Good luck to all teams @ state!
I think you do a great job, just wanted to mention the back row players! Thanks for all of your work
Unless you have tactical sense where needed, unless you have access to good equipment, medical backup and the psychological conditions to have the winning attitude and be able to drive yourself through pain, and of course, superb technique, all the physical side will be in vain.-Garrett Hoelscher
Just a correction, Caliche beat #1 Weldon Valley & Community Christian in there Regional Tourney!
Not sure if anyone from Colorado Preps reads these comments but there is some incorrect information regarding Wiley's state tournament history. Wiley also went to the state tournament 7 times from 1995 - 2001. We were in class 2A all of those years so it would not appear in the 1A state tournament history.