Lutheran became the first team outside the Patriot league to land the 3A state championship since 2009 and they also ended the five-year dominance of the division.  Ranked number one to open the season, the Lions start the season as the team to beat but that’s one of many storylines for the 3A campaign.
 
STATE FINALS COULD FEATURE A REMATCH OF 2018
Lutheran downed Colorado Springs Christian in four sets to claim the state championship and based on those results and talent returning for both teams, the two sets of Lions could easily face off for the title this November.
Leading the repeat effort for Lutheran is reigning Player of the Year Payton Brgoch.  She needs just 96 kills this season to reach 1000 for her career and is probably the top offensive threat across the division.  Joining her in the lineup is Kennedey Johnson who paced the Lions in assists (558) and aces (52).  Plenty of support will also come with the return of Lexi Wilmoth (398 assists) and Bella Vezzani (377 diggs).
Colorado Springs Christian rolled through the Tri Peaks at 10-0 and finished 22-5 overall.  Three of the top four hitters, Charlie Tidwell (282 kills), Abby Miller (228) and Jubilee Diamond (182) will again patrol the net for the Lions.  Those three will again receive passes and leadership from Kiersten Brock who totaled 1,136 assists as a sophomore.  Avery Stein, the team leader with 449 diggs a year ago, is also back in the lineup.
 
LUTHERAN AND CSCS SHOULD DOMINATE THEIR RESPECTIVE LEAGUES
While getting tuned up for another post-season run, we don’t expect either Lutheran or CS Christian to receive strong league challenges.  Both clubs could easily get through their conference slates without a loss and possibly without dropping a set.
Faith Christian has often provided the strongest challenge to Lutheran in the Metro, but the Eagles need to find a front-line hitter due to the graduation of Ryanne Ferro (208 kills).  Helping the process is the return of Allure Padilla, a returning setter with 562 assists a year ago.
Prospect Ridge and Machebeuf each nailed down a top four league finish last season and for the Miners, a first ever state tournament appearance.  Both may be challenged to match their combined 34-wins from a year ago.  Prospect Ridge lost the hitting duo of Lauryn Parker (221 kills) and Gabi Maiocco (202) to graduation but returns Chloe Brown (460 assists).  Machebeuf has the opposite concern as top setter Adrianna Casados (596 assists) graduated.  The Buffs also get back top defender Sonia Casados (300 diggs).
Colorado Academy, Peak to Peak and Stargate could be Metro teams on the upswing.  CA returns Merrill Rollhaus (217 kills) and top sophomore Jordan Alexander (367 diggs).  Peak to Peak will lean on Calla Winner (470 assists) and Sophie Kiehl (329 diggs) while Stargate will build on the duo of Taylor Boeyink (201 kills) and Amelie Baehr-Ross (415 assists).
Manitou Springs and Lamar finished second and third behind CSCS in the Tri Peaks last year.  Both teams lost top hitters to graduation as the Mustangs said goodbye to Giulia Vidossi (283 kills) and Lamar to Brecken Payne (359).
St Mary’s and La Junta may move ahead of the Mustangs and Savages.  The Pirates return hitter Seneca Hackley (208 kills) and top setter Alexa LaMach (590 assists).  Plus, they could receive a boost from coach David Barkley who comes to the Pirates from Cheyenne Mountain where he won several state titles in Class 4A.  He’s been away from coaching the past two seasons but is a proven winner.
La Junta has good depth up front with Bianca Good (242 kills) and Hayden Mayo (220).  They along with setter Haley Eckhart (716 assists) helped the Tigers earn 17 wins last season.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE IN SEARCH OF A FEW GOOD SETTERS
For the past decade (at least) the Patriot has been the deepest and most talented league in Class 3A.  Last year, the conference sent six teams to the state tournament and the number of qualifiers is often at least five.  The Patriot had also won eight consecutive state championships until Lutheran ended the string last November.
Getting another six teams back to Denver this year may depend on if traditional powerhouses such as University, Platte Valley and Resurrection Christian can develop a new setter.
Platte Valley knocked off Eaton to win the league championship last Fall but enters this season without Maddie Uyemura.  A four-year starter, she graduated with over 2,900 career assists.  University will be without Alexsei Vierya who recorded all but two of the Bulldogs assists last year.  She totaled 1,057 last year and nearly 2,600 overall.  Resurrection Christian graduated Bryce Leinemann who picked up over 1,500 assists in the last two years including 846 as a senior.
Three other championship contenders, Eaton, Sterling and Valley appear to be in great shape in the setter’s role.  Eaton welcomes back sophomore Megan St. Jean (610 assists) and senior Andie Anderson (405).  Sterling will be led by Allie Schumacher (554 assists) and Valley features the tandem of Delaney Eckhardt (424) and Makayla Kissler (335).  Eckhardt is also coming off the rare double of leading a team in assists and kills (257).
 
STERLING IS A YEAR OLDER AND POTENTIAL PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPION
Despite a lineup dominated by freshmen and sophomores, the Tigers still managed 16 wins and another state tournament berth in 2018.  Now a year older and stronger, the tradition rich program may push for a league championship and deep playoff run as nearly the entire roster is back.
Sophomores Sydney Henry (237 kills) and Kaylee Johnson (165) finished 1-2 in hitting as first year players last year.  Junior Valarie Allen (161) is also back up front and will provide another option.  As mentioned, classmate Allie Schumacher is back after reaching the 550-mark for assists last season.  And senior Jade Feather (571 diggs) returns to provide leadership.
Climbing from fifth in the Patriot to the top spot is a long climb as other clubs simply reload instead of rebuilding.  Eaton is ranked second in 3A and had won five consecutive championships before being eliminated by Lutheran in the state semifinals.  They will always be in the mix.  In addition to the strong setting duo of St. Jean and Anderson, the Reds will need more numbers from Abbey Hays (191 kills) and Sydney Leffler (113) at the net.  Another key returnee is McKynna Gentry (290 diggs).
University won 24 matches a year ago and features new coach Nicki Wilkins to the fold.  They will rely heavily on sophomore Logan Conlin who picked up 161 kills and 392 diggs in her first season.  Kylie Williams (387 diggs) will also help defensively.
Platte Valley welcomes back top hitter Claire Smith (248 kills) but she’s the only one among the top four from last year still with the Broncos.  As a result, Kaira Alvarez (104 kills) should get more chances.
Resurrection Christian also lost three of their top four hitters but returns sophomore Jeorgia Jones with 168 kills.  Another sophomore, Aly Reeser, returns after picking up 269 diggs.  A third sophomore, Kylee Nordhagen, is the likely replacement for Lienemann at setter.  She handed out 55 assists in very limited duty last season.
Valley will be led by Eckhardt, but the Vikings will be far from a one-girl show.  She will get help from sophomores Tabor Flanagan (94 kills) and Hallee Sherman (88).
 
CAN ALAMOSA EQUAL OR SURPASS LAST YEAR’S RUN
It will be very difficult for the Moose to top their effort from last season.  They finished the season 26-2 which doubled their win total from the previous season.  The Moose rolled through the regular season and regionals without a loss and then posted another win at the state tournament.
Coach Annie Rice’s club did graduate top hitter and team leader Sylvie Caton but almost everyone else is back in the lineup.  Up front, the Moose can turn to Emily DePreist (173 kills), Terese Chavez (155) and Taylor Motz (153) plus they get back Jordan Mobbley.  One of the best all-around players in Class 3A, Mobbley led Alamosa with 32 aces and 847 assists.  She’s also the top returnee in diggs with 268.
While the Moose are favored to land another IML title, they could get pushed by Montezuma Cortez.  The Panthers posted 16 wins a year ago and features a talented roster coming back including Avery Wright (211 kills) and Devon McHenry (107).  Another threat up front will be Del Norte transfer Myka Glover who collected 261 kills for the 2A state tournament qualifying Tigers a year ago.
Leigha Comisky also returns to Cortez after dishing out 582 assists last Fall.  Amber Wood (219 diggs) is another familiar face.
Centauri looks to match or improve on their 16 wins from 2018 with the return of Dynae Johnson (113 kills) and Ashtyn Haslett (325 assists).  Pagosa Springs should be better as Taylor Lewis (118 kills), Teagan Stretton (280 assists), Chole Bridges (138 assists) and River Pitcher (405 diggs) all return.
 
CAN THE REMAINING LEAGUES BREAKTHROUGH AT STATE TOURNAMENT?
The Western Slope, Frontier and Confluence conferences all failed to qualify a team for the state tournament last year.  Coal Ridge and Roaring Fork have been regular visitors from the Western Slope while Middle Park and sometimes Bennett have made appearances for the Frontier.  The Confluence has yet to send a team to the state bracket.
Out West, Cedaredge may have the best chance to land the conference crown and reach Denver.  The Bruins captured 20 wins a year ago and return Kammie Henderson (167 kills) and Makayla Kehmeier (143) up front and Baylee Harris (560 assists) at setter.  Coal Ridge will also threaten for the top spot behind the hitting of Taylor Wiescamp (203 kills) while Delta will lean on Sara Geddes (180 kills and 203 diggs).  Gunnison may also surprise with returnees Jenna Wise (447 assists), Kylie Travis (156 kills) and Shaylee Mangum (136 kills).
Middle Park may take a step back in the Frontier as they graduated their top hitter and setter.  Returning to lead the Panthers will be Katie Trail (99 kills).  Bennett may be the favorite as they get back Reese Barber (232 kills), Chloe Church (210) and Peyton Ullrich (115) up front.  Conference leading setter Raena Schledwitz (796 assists) is also back for the Tigers.
DSST-Green Valley is coming off the Confluence crown, but they may be passed over by Eagle Ridge Academy and DSST-College View who are led respectively by Emma Cable (149 kills) and Jandel Bracamontes (113) who were 1-2 in the conference in hitting last season.