VOLLEYBALL - CLASS 2A CAPSULES
Defending state champion Lutheran is one of two unbeaten in the field as the Class 2A tournament gets underway on Friday. The Lions are 25-0 and are considered the team to beat as event opens but they will get pushed by the likes of fellow unbeaten Simla, defending state runner-up Akron and Santa Fe League champion Swink. Below are capsules on each team and we’ve placed the teams in order by Pool.
LUTHERAN LIONS (25-0)
· Won 3A Metro conference (8-0) – topped Holy Family by one game
· Region 4 Champion / beat Denver Christian (3) and Colorado Springs (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Roaring Fork, University, Platte Valley, Resurrection Christian, Byers (2), Machebeuf, Colorado Academy, Clear Creek, Holy Family
· LOSSES: None
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (2-0) – Beat University and Resurrection Christian
· Dropped only 9 sets all season / won last 11 matches in 3-game sweeps
· TOP PLAYERS
o Connie Olson – 248 kills / 59 aces
o Laura Beach – 235 kills / 109 blocks / 75 assists
o Jordyn Sturms – 134 kills
o Michelle Cattau – 80 blocks / 59 assists
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2011 (defending state champion)
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Won 8 matches in the last 2 years / 5-0 last year / 1-2 in 2010 as L-Parker (Lutheran also qualified that year and now they’re a combined program)
RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN COUGARS (18-6)
· Won the Mile High League (9-0) by 2 games over Dayspring Christian
· Wildcard Team: Lost in regionals to Yuma (5) / beat Dayspring Christian (4)
· QUALITY WINS: Dayspring Christian (2), Otis, Lyons (2)
· LOSSES: Berthoud, University, Akron, Lutheran, Holy Family, Yuma
· Every loss but Berthoud against teams that qualified for either 2A or 3A state tournament
· TOP PLAYERS
o Preston Lienemann – 343 kills / 51 aces
o Riliegh Lienemann – 186 kills / 50 aces
o Abby Skipworth – 173 kills / 48 blocks
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Lost in Semifinals to Akron in 2010 / Lost to Fowler in 2009 Championship / 8 tournament wins since 2004
TELLURIDE MINERS (18-6)
· Finished third in San Juan Conference (9-4) – trailed Dolores (2A) and Norwood (1A)
· Region 7 Champion / Beat Ignacio (4) and Meeker (5)
· QUALITY WINS: Dove Creek (2), Dolores (3), Del Norte,
· LOSSES: Mancos, Sargent, Ignacio, Norwood (2)
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (4-4)
· Won final six matches of the season including two at regionals / 3 losses to non-state tournament teams
· TOP PLAYERS
o Scout Franklin – 95 kills
o Erin Kean – 92 kills / 35 blocks
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: 2nd straight appearance / went 1-2 in pool play last year (only 2 wins in school history – previous in 2001) – never reached semifinal round
SWINK LIONS (22-2)
· Won Santa Fe League (13-1) by two games over Rye (split w/Thunderbolts)
· Region 1 Champion / beat Fowler (4) and Sanford (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Fowler (3), Wiley, Las Animas (3), Springfield (2), Rye, Sanford
· LOSSES: Rye, Fowler
· FIVE SET MATCHES: None
· Lost only 4 sets in 22 wins / 6 sets in two losses
· TOP PLAYERS
o Madison Stewart – 255 kills
o Lindsey Tatum – 217 kills
o Leah Roberston – 134 kills / 82 blocks
o Sarah Tatum – 50 aces
o Maddie Jacquart – 58 blocks
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2001
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Went 2-1 in pool play last year and lost in semifinals to Akron (3-0) – first appearance since 2006 / finished 2nd in 2006 and 2002
PAONIA EAGLES (22-4)
· Won Western Slope crown (11-0) by 2 games over Vail Mountain & Rangely
· Region 3 Champion / beat Dolores (3) and Vail Mountain (5), Rangely
· QUALITY WINS: Delta, Grand Valley, Norwood, Vail Mountain, Meeker (2)
· LOSSES: Olathe, Meeker, Vail Mountain, Rangely
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (2-1) Beat Vail Mountain 3-2 to win regionals last week
· Finished only 3rd at districts before winning regionals last week / lost 3 of last 5 matches
· TOP PLAYERS
o Ce’rra Carsten – 292 kills / 77 aces / 32 blocks
o Carson Pipher – 171 kills
o Easton Hartigan – 156 kills / 42 blocks
o Abby Campbell – 141 kills / 44 blocks
o Taylor Carsten – 95 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Only tournament win in school history came in 1983 / beat Rocky Ford 2-0 / first tournament appearance since 1990 (all-time state record: 1-4)
SANGRE DE CRISTO T-BIRDS (22-3)
· Finished 2nd in Western Slope (8-1) – one game back of Gunnison
· Wildcard – lost to Rye (3) in regionals / beat Del Norte (4)
· QUALITY WINS: Sierra Grande, Sargent, Del Norte (4), La Veta, Sanford
· LOSSES: Rye, Sanford, Alamosa
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (3-1 ) / W: Centauri, Alamosa, Del Norte / L: Sanford,
· Does not own a win over a team that qualified for state tournament in any class
· TOP PLAYERS
o Complete Statistics Not Reported to MaxPreps
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: 8 tournament wins in school history – all since 2005 – last appearance in 2009 / lost in semifinals to Fowler that year – also fell in semifinals in 2007 and 2005
SIMLA CUBS (25-0)
· Won Black Forest (11-0) by one game over Colorado Springs and four over three others
· Region 8 Champion / Beat Calhan (3) and Byers (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Wiley, Burlington, Flagler, Akron, Yuma, Colorado Springs (2), Byers (2), Elbert
· LOSSES: None
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-0) – beat Akron at Rams Invitational
· Lost only 4 sets all season / has not dropped a set since September 22nd (Akron Tournament) – won 17 straight by sweep
· TOP PLAYERS
o Kenzi Mitchell – 454 kills / 44 aces
o Jessica George – 330 kills
o Marilyn Alexander – 52 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1996, 1994 (beat Fowler in finals both years)
· PLAYOFF NOTES: Won a tournament game 5 of the last 6 years (missed 2008) – First 2A appearance since 2009 / lost in finals that year to Hoehne (3-2) / in 1A tournament last two years – lost in semifinals both seasons
FOWLER GRIZZLIES (18-7)
· Finished 3rd in Santa Fe (9-4) – trailed Swink by 3 games and Rye by 1
· Wildcard – lost to Swink (4) at regionals / beat Sanford (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Rye (2), Alamosa, Wiley, La Junta, Las Animas, Swink
· LOSSES: Swink (3), Rye, Las Animas
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (3-1) – W: Rye (2), Las Animas, / L: Las Animas
· Went just 5-5 over first ten matches – won 13 of last 5 (both losses to Swink)
· TOP PLAYERS
o Lindsey Moss – 400 kills / 78 aces
o Jacki Sallee – 230 kills / 72 blocks
o Moriah Shields – 178 kills / 64 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 13 overall / 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1988, 1983, 1981
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Did not qualify last year despite being unbeaten going to regionals (lost to Swink) / Won previous three state championships /
· Did not qualify last year after reaching regionals unbeaten / Beat Burlington for 2010 state championship (3-0) / Won 20 straight matches at state tournament / last loss in 2002 (Strasburg)
YUMA INDIANS (16-9)
· Finished 3rd In Lower Platte League (6-2) – lost to Akron and Caliche
· Region 2 Champion / beat Resurrection Christian (5) and Dayspring Christian (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Merino, Burlington, Holyoke (2)
· LOSSES: Sterling, Mead, Mountain View, Brush, Simla, Otis, Akron (2), Caliche,
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-1) – lost to Caliche in league play / beat Resurrection Christian at Regionals
· Won 6 of final 7 matches / only 3 seniors on the varsity roster / top hitter is Freshman
· TOP PLAYERS
o Tara Traphagen – 192 kills / 36 aces / 125 blocks
o Karli Corey – 150 kills / 71 blocks
o Caitlyn Murphy – 125 kills
o Marina Hansen – 112 kills
o Logan Hixon – 37 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1990 (beat Eaton 2-1)
· PLAYOFF NOTES: First appearance since 2003 (lost in semifinals to Platte Valley 3-1) / 7 tournament wins in school history /
AKRON RAMS (24-1)
· Won Lower Platte Title (8-0) by one game over Caliche
· Region 6 Champion / beat Holyoke (3) and Lyons (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Weldon Valley, Brush, Caliche (2), Resurrection Christian, Dayspring Christian, Otis, Holyoke (2), Fleming, Yuma (2), Burlington
· LOSSES: Simla
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-1) – W: Resurrection Christian / L: Simla
· Since loss to Simla, Rams have won 16 straight matches (all by 3-0 sweeps)
· TOP PLAYERS
o Sidney Merril – 355 kills / 58 aces
o Allyson Vasquez – 264 kills / 73 blocks
o Sydney Glosson – 173 kills / 98 blocks
o Jordan Baer – 152 kills / 108 blocks
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1991, 1989
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Lost in finals to Lutheran last year / 4th straight appearance / 50 tournament wins in school history
RYE THUNDERBOLTS (20-4)
· Finished 2nd in Santa Fe (11-3) by two games to Swink
· Region 5 Champion / beat Sangre De Cristo (3) and Del Norte (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Fowler, Swink, Sargent, Las Animas, Del Norte, Springfield
· LOSSES: Fowler (2), Swink, Las Animas,
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-2) W: Fowler, Crowley County / L: Fowler (2)
· Won 7 of last 8 matches (loss to Fowler in 5) / opened season 8-0
· TOP PLAYERS
o Taylor Mansfield – 344 kills
o Kaylee Rahl – 182 kills
o Rylee Abert – 138 kills / 250 blocks
o Anna Netzer – 118 kills / 121 blocks
o Jayde VanOort – 147 blocks
o Jessica Lauritzen – 112 blocks / 51 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None
· PLAYOFF NOTE: Only previous tournament win in 1983 (beat Plateau Valley 2-1) / 2nd appearance at state tournament (went 1-2 in 1983 event)
BYERS BULLDOGS (19-5)
· Won Union Pacific (6-0) by 2 games over Flagler and Burlington
· Wildcard – lost to Simla (3) in regionals / beat Calhan (3)
· QUALITY WINS: Middle Park, Flagler, Burlington, Stratton,
· LOSSES: Middle Park, Lutheran (2), Simla (2)
· FIVE SET MATCHES: (1-0) – beat Burlington on October 4th
· 4 of 5 losses to unbeaten 2A programs (Lutheran & Simla) – opened season 11-1 and has gone 8-4 down the stretch
· TOP PLAYERS
o Kaila Hurley – 188 kills
o Jessi Smith – 99 kills
o Taylor Dodge – 43 aces
· STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2004 (beat Las Animas 3-0)
· PLAYOFF NOTE: 14 tournament wins in school history / lost in semifinals to Lutheran (3-0) last year / 2nd straight appearance and 2nd since 2003
Comments
Great notes! Thank you guys!