We’ve already seen match results this week that should cause a shakeup in the next round of Class 5A volleyball rankings.  Topping that list of course was Highlands Ranch win over #1 Castle View on Tuesday as the Falcons scored a four set win.
The match was extremely tight as all four games were decided by the required two points.  Castle View won the opening set 27-25 but the Falcons rallied to win the next three 25-23, 26-24 and 25-23.
Cassie Davis had a huge match with 20 kills in 36 attempts.  Kelsie Milkowski was next with 19 kills in 51 swings and Jill Borgerding also reached double figures with 12 kills.  Borgerding and Allison Connor each provided 24 assists in the Falcons best win of the season.
Kate Menz led Castle View with 18 kills and four others had at least eight.  It was their first loss of the season and knocked them out of first place in the Continental.  Highlands Ranch improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in league play leaving them tied for the top spot with Chaparral (4-0).  The Wolverines, who surprisingly dropped from the rankings despite going 2-0 in the previous week, beat ThunderRidge Tuesday to remain unbeaten in the conference.  They’re off the rest of the week.
Highlands Ranch is also off for the weekend.  Castle View hosts Regis on Thursday.  Mountain Vista stayed one game back by beating Douglas County on Tuesday, has a tough test with Ponderosa on Thursday.
Three teams opened the week tied for the Front Range lead but that list was cut to two on Tuesday.  That’s when Fossil Ridge bounced Horizon in three quick sets.  The Hawks opened the match tied with Fort Collins and Legacy atop the standings but the loss put them back in a third place logjam with the Sabercats, Rocky Mountain and Broomfield.
Fossil Ridge allowed just 39 points in the three-game sweep and offensively picked up a dozen kills from both Riley Zuhn and Catie Semadeni.  They host Broomfield on Thursday and another win creates a bit more separation in the top five.
Fort Collins grabbed their seventh straight in downing Mountain Range in three.  In two of the games, the Lambkins limited the Mustangs to single digits on the scoreboard.  The Lambkins reeled off 21 aces including 11 from Taylor Rohr.  She had just 12 for the season going in.
Next up for the Lambkins is a home match with Fairview on Thursday.  Legacy kept pace by beating Greeley West on the road (3-1).  They host Loveland on Thursday.
The Jeffco race opened this week and Lakewood is already 2-0 with wins over Dakota Ridge and Pomona.  Those wins will prep the Tigers for their annual showdown with Chatfield next week (October 3rd). The result of their head-to-head match often determines the league champion and second place team.
Chatfield began their league slate with a four set win at Arvada West on Wednesday.  It’s their only match of the week so they also have time to for additional practice before the Lakewood showdown.
Early shuffling and positioning has started in the East Metro.  Five teams opened this week without a league loss but after just two days of activity, the list is down to just two as Rangeview and Vista Peak are both 2-0.
Both teams were easy winners on Tuesday.  Vista Peak rolled Westminster and Rangeview topped Aurora Central.  Each club gets back in action Thursday with the Bison meeting Aurora Central and the Raiders heading to Hinkley.  Lexi Hurtado paced Rangeview with 12 kills in their win over Aurora Central.  Overall the Raiders outhit the Trojans 35-16.
Cherry Creek and Cherokee Trail (both 4-0) continue to lead the Centennial conference by one game over Arapahoe (1-1).  All other league members have already dropped at least two conference matches.
The Bruins blanked Mullen 3-0 on Wednesday.  Katie Sherman finished with 12 kills and Ashley Hand dished out 13 assists.  Creek also ended up with 10 assists including three apiece from Hand and Hayden Warner.
The Cougars picked up a fourth straight win and third consecutive sweep in a 3-0 win at Smoky Hill.  Freshman Amaya Messier led the team with nine kills and Savannah Spitzer added seven.  Cierra Williams, with 11 kills, topped the defensive effort and she got help from Trinity Nguyen with 10.
Both clubs have the rest of the week off and both return to action next Wednesday.  The Bruins are at Smoky Hill and the Cougars entertain Arapahoe.  The two leaders then square off two days later (October 5th).
The most important remaining match of the week takes place out west where Fruita Monument meets Montrose on Friday.  The teams have battled each for the championship over the past decade and sometimes have shared the title by splitting two conference matches.
Fruita is already 2-0 in conference play.  The Wildcats latest conference win came on Tuesday with a three game sweep of Grand Junction.  Dana Thomson dropped in 17 kills on 31 swings and Riley Snyder provided eight kills on 17 attempts.  Truth Hafey chipped in four aces and Snyder and Maddy Mueller three apiece.
Montrose is 1-1 and sits a game back.  The Indians lost their conference opener to Grand Junction earlier in September but responded with a sweep of Grand Junction Central on Tuesday.  The win was also important confidence wise for the Indians as it ended a four match losing streak.
Fans of the Colorado Springs Metro are still a week away from the opening round of conference play there.  Coronado (9-2) and Palmer (6-2) have the best records thus far and both are in action this week.  The Cougars host league rival Pine Creek in a non-conference game Thursday and Palmer heads to Thompson Valley on Saturday.  Two other contenders are likely Rampart (6-4) and Pine Creek (6-6).  Rampart beat Air Academy Tuesday night and meets Cheyenne Mountain on Thursday.  Pine Creek, as mentioned faces Coronado on Thursday, and they’ll enter coming off a loss to 4A #1 Lewis Palmer.