The climb back really began late in the 2024 fall season for Berthoud’s girls volleyball team.

A program that was previously in the Class 4A state tournament in 2021, the Spartans had hit a bit of a skid. Berthoud won a combined 19 games between the 2022-23 seasons, then got off to a 6-9 start last fall with a four-game losing streak to open October. Instead of folding, the Spartans won seven of their final eight regular-season games before going 1-1 in regionals to finish at 14-11.

Berthoud has picked up where it left off and then some, and may be one of the biggest surprises in the state so far in 2025. The Spartans (12-0, 8-0 in Longs Peak League play) were one of three unbeaten teams left in 4A (Montrose and Battle Mountain were the others) going into Tuesday night’s games. The second run through league play gets rolling this week, with Roosevelt and defending state champion Thompson Valley coming to Berthoud.

The Spartans’ attack at the net is all about balance, with junior Avery Tyschen (102 kills), senior Kyndall Viegut (90 kills) and sophomore Addison Jones (82 kills, 32 total blocks) leading the way. Senior Bella Shelton is averaging three digs a set, and junior Libby Wilson is at 7.5 assists a set.

With the final month of the regular season here, league games take on a little more urgency. Here is a quick look at some of this week’s top games in each classification:

Class 5A

Niwot at Legacy, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2
After Tuesday night, Niwot and Legacy are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the Granite League. Legacy (11-3, 5-0) is 11th in the 5A seeding index, with Niwot (10-2, 6-0) sitting at No. 14. … Niwot’s two losses came in a tournament at the end of August, with the team playing only six games in September. Senior Bella Berger is averaging 4.4 kills a set, and senior Elise Arenda averages 4.4 digs a set. Junior Harper Kellner has 350 assists. … Legacy has won 10 of its last 11 games. Senior Aislin Oldach (4.2 kills a set) and sophomore Emma Gray (9.2 assists a set) have been strong, as has the combination of Oldach and Claire Tsai, who have 235 digs between them.

Class 4A

Montrose at University, 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4
Montrose faces a tough test this weekend, going up against a one-loss University team and defending 3A champion Village on Saturday. The Red Hawks (11-0) haven’t played outside the Southwestern League since Sept. 6. Maggie Legg is averaging more than five kills a set and leads the team in digs, and setter Lilly Nelson averages just shy of 10 assists a set. … University (10-1) has only loss, to 3A’s No. 2 Eaton in five sets, but is somehow 10th in the 4A seeding index. Junior Kaydence Lucero and senior Maddie McNair are closing in on 30 total blocks each, and Kenley Rudiger averages more than eight assists a set.

Class 3A

Forge Christian at Stargate School, 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7
These two Metro League teams are currently 4th and 5th in the 3A seeding index, and Stargate (15-1, 4-0) is one of only two league unbeatens. Stargate’s only loss came to Prospect Ridge, and the Eagles have been on a roll since. Senior Morgan Stitzer averages 4.8 digs a set and sophomore Reese White is at eight assists. … Forge Christian (11-3, 3-1) fell to Colorado Academy in the league opener Sept. 6, but the team’s only other loss have come to 3A’s No. 3 Resurrection Christian and 2A’s top-ranked Lyons. Abby Nance has 362 assists on the year.

Class 2A

Simla at Burlington, 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4
Simla (12-2) has won seven in a row since a loss to Merino, and avenged its other loss during that stretch against McClave. The Cubs have three players who have topped 100 kills, including two freshmen in Brynlee Amendt and Trenna Kocerha. Junior Carlee Cox is first on the team in kills and second in digs. … Burlington is currently 11th in the 2A seeding index. The Cougars (7-3) don’t resume league play until Oct. 16. Briar Simpson has more than 200 digs.

Class 1A

Hi-Plains at Fleming, 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3
The 1A classification is brimming with big matchups this week, but this non-league tilt could stand out. Second-ranked Fleming (11-1) has won seven in a row since a loss to Merino, but the Wildcats are up against some big challenges this week. First comes ninth-ranked Otis on Friday, with No. 7 Hi-Plains the next day. Fleming’s Ashley Bornhoft and Quincy Stull have combined for 240 kills, and Brooke Schaefer averages 4.1 digs a set. … Hi-Plains (10-2) has its own back-to-back gauntlet, facing Fleming and then No. 3 McClave on Saturday. The Patriots’ Cambria Seaman and Brianna Rueb have combined for just shy of 300 kills, and Seaman has more than 200 digs.