It comes as little surprise that Kit Carson and Fleming continue to hold down the top two spots in the newest CHSAANow.com rankings, released Tuesday morning. The two squads of Wildcats are 18-1 in sets played and both have already defeated a preseason top-five opponent (Weldon Valley in both cases).
Kit Carson is off to a 5-0 start, sweeping all five opponents. Over the weekend, the Wildcats took care of Burlington and Idalia, with Tess Hornung recording six kills in each match. This week’s slate for the top-ranked squad will have home contests with #8 Springfield on Thursday and Cheraw on Friday.
The Longhorns dropped their opener to Eads last Thursday, 3-1, but they responded with a three-set sweep of Deerfield, KS the following night. Their next three matches will test their mettle, as they play three ranked teams in a five day span. After visiting Kit Carson, Springfield will host #6 La Veta on Saturday and then visit #10 Holly next Tuesday.
With the calendar reflecting the second full week of the regular season, that means it’s time for #2 Fleming to participate in the annual Bishop Machebeuf tournament. The Wildcats have been a fixture at the event which features a number of 3A and 4A schools. It has served as a springboard for the program in the past, as they have gone 16-3 the past five years. Along with the hosts, Fleming will face Buena Vista, St. Mary’s, and Goodland (KS).
Fleming will look to take a 3-0 record into the weekend, as the Wildcats will visit Peetz on Thursday. It will mark the third straight league road game to start the season. They defeated Weldon Valley (3-1) last Thursday and then swept Pawnee last Friday. Fleming has not lost to Peetz in over a decade and has only dropped one set in the last 26 matches against the Bulldogs.
McClave moved up one spot to #3 in the latest poll, thanks in part to a perfect run through their own tournament last Saturday. The Cardinals did not drop a set in beating Centennial, Sierra Grande, and Holly. The win over Holly extended their dominance over the Wildcats to at least 16 straight matches. The only action this week for the Cards is a home clash with Walsh on Thursday. The Eagles are 0-1 after dropping a five-setter to Arickaree/Woodlin last Friday. McClave has won 12 of the last 15 with Walsh.
Fourth-ranked Hi-Plains/Flagler has only seen the court once this season, and they took a tough four-set victory over Cheyenne Wells. Kodie Niebur-Hasz powered the attack with 21 kills, while Devan Stagner added 14. Freshman Sydnie Santala recorded eight kills and six aces in her first varsity match. They will look to keep things rolling with a road trip to Idalia on Friday.
Otis moved into the top five this week after taking a 3-1 win over 2A Wray last Friday and a 3-0 sweep of Eads on the road the following night. The Bulldogs will host Weldon Valley on Friday, with the recent series being tied at 2-2. Last year the two met twice, with the Warrior taking both, including one match-up at state. It marked the first time the two traditional powers had met since 2009. Weldon Valley has struggled in the early going, posting a 1-3 record. They will host Pawnee on Thursday. The Warriors have won eight straight against the Coyotes, and 12 of the last 13.
La Veta moved to 4-0 on the season with two more sweeps over the weekend. The Redskins easily defeated Aguilar in a tri-meet, surrendering a total of 16 points in the three sets. The match with Creede was a bit tougher, but the Miners could not score more than 17 points in any set. Prior to Saturday’s trip to #8 Springfield, the Redskins will host Walsh on Friday. La Veta defeated both teams last year.
Seventh-ranked Kiowa has had to wait longer than most to get its season underway, but the wait ends on Wednesday. The Indians begin a busy week with a road trip to 2A Peyton, followed by a jaunt to Pikes Peak Christian on Friday. Things really get cranked up on Saturday, as the Indians will participate in the Bennett Invitational. Kiowa will face the hosts, Salida and Calhan in pool play. The other pool will have Byers, DSST, Kennedy and Simla.
Making its first appearance of the season in the rankings is Stratton/Liberty at #9. The Knighted Eagles are 3-0 on the young season and they are only two wins away from matching last year’s win total. Tom Milligan is the fourth head coach of the program in as many years and his squad showed some moxie last week, winning five-setters against Elbert and Genoa-Hugo on consecutive nights. That was followed up by a sweep of Edison last Saturday.
The Knighted Eagles will face another surprising team in Wiley on Thursday. The Panthers are 4-1 on the season after sweeping their way through the Miami-Yoder tournament and fighting Holly, eventually losing in five sets. A familiar last name is leading the way for Wiley, with Faith Dellamaestra recording 27 kills so far.
Tenth-ranked Holly had won its first three matches of the season, including that big rivalry meeting with Wiley, heading into the McClave tournament last Saturday. The Wildcats easily downed Sierra Grande to open the tourney, but they fell to the hosts in straight sets to see a four-match winning streak snapped. Holly finished things up with a 2-0 win over Centennial. This week sees the squad visiting Cheyenne Wells on Thursday and then hosting South Baca on Friday.
A number of players have already been involved in the attack for the Wildcats, as six have recorded double digit kills in the first week and a half of action. Kallie Cathcart leads the way with 53, while Saedee Davis (29) and Josie Cook (21) combine for 50 more. Jordan Kalma (14), Mercedes Rodriguez (13) and Jaci Turner (12) are the others in double figures.
Prairie opened the season ranked third under new head coach Andrea Kinnison, but the Mustangs have limped out of the gates, falling out of the rankings with an 0-3 start. All three losses were 2-0 sweeps in the Brush tournament. The Mustangs will have a tough week on tap, as they host 2A Union Colony Prep (#9) on Tuesday, visit Lone Star on Thursday, and host league rival Briggsdale on Friday.
Briggsdale has flown under the radar to start the year. After opening with a 3-1 loss to Union Colony Prep, the Falcons have reeled off four straight wins heading into Friday’s match at Prairie. The Mustangs have had the upper hand in the rivalry, winning 14 of the last 16 matches against the Falcons, but Briggsdale own a 2-0 victory over Prairie earlier this season.
Also on the schedule this weekend is the Bethune Invitational. That event will feature Cornerstone Christian, Idalia, Genoa-Hugo, Cheyenne Wells, Arickaree/Woodlin, as well as the hosts. The teams will be split into two pools and then crossover games will be added.
The entire top 10 schedule for all classes this week can be found by clicking here.  We’ll post results there throughout the week. Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text to 970.380.7737, by email to [email protected] or by twitter @coloradopreps.
