Crunch time for volleyball teams across the state as they have just two weeks remaining before playoff teams are announced and placed in the regional brackets. Since league champions earn automatic bids to the 24-team pairings in each class, Colorado Preps provides a snapshot of each Class 1A-2A-3A conference race entering the final stretch.
Photo provided by Mayhan Photography / Kit Carson.
CLASS 1A
5280: Belleview Christian, Flatirons Academy and Front Range Baptist (all 3-0) share the lead going into the final two weeks. Two of those leaders collide on Tuesday when Belleview Christian entertains Front Range Baptist. Front Range and Flatirons Academy also get together on April 20th and as it stands right now, Belleview Chrsitian and Flatirons are not scheduled to play so there’s a chance they could share the overall championship. Then a tiebreaker would be used to determine which program earns the automatic bid.
ARK VALLEY: Halfway through the conference schedule Wiley (4-0) has a one game edge on Springfield (2-1) but each team play the other a second time. Wiley won the first match over Springfield in four back on April 2nd. Match number two is schedule for April 24th; the final day of the regular season.
BLACK FOREST: Simla (5-0) and Elbert (4-0) sit tied for first with Kiowa and Evangelical Christian both one game back in the loss column. Simla has already beaten ECA and will face the other two this week. First up is Kiowa on Tuesday and then the Cubs visit Elbert on Thursday. Kiowa and ECA must also play as well and that comes in the final week (April 20th).
FISHERS PEAK: With just three teams in the league, two wins will earn a team the championship and La Veta can hit that number on Tuesday when they host Manzanola. La Veta has already beaten Primero so another victory over Manzanola gives them the championship. If Manzanola gets the win, they can secure the automatic bid by beating Primero on Saturday.
HIGH PLAINS: Kit Carson clinched the league championship with their win over Cheyenne Wells last Friday. Their only remaining league game is against Granada on Tuesday but they also have a good test coming up on Saturday against highly ranked Simla. McClave can wrap up second place by beating Cheyenne Wells on the road this Tuesday.
NORTH CENTRAL: Top ranked Fleming is the league champion based on their three-game sweep of Briggsdale last Friday. The Wildcats though still have non-league tests left on the schedule with Merino and Class 3A defending state champion Sterling. Both of those matches are in the final week.
YWKC: Still a long way to go in this race but Otis (1-0) can take a major step to the title by eating Idalia (21-) on Friday. Otis also has a league game at Arickaree-Woodlin on Tuesday and then in the final week they face Bethune and Hi Plains in league play. So even a win over Idalia does not clinch; it simply puts them in the control of the championship chase.
SAN JUAN: Predominantly a 2A conference but 1A Dove Creek is very close to winning the title and getting the automatic playoff berth. The Bulldogs (6-0) top both Telluride and Dolores by two games in the standings. They host Telluride on Tuesday and a win there means they can clinch the crown by beating either Norwood on Friday or Ignacio on Saturday.
SOUTHERN PEAKS: Sangre De Cristo has secured the league championship and will be in the playoffs. They have a tough schedule to close including matches against bigger schools Centauri, Swink, Monte Vista and Mancos.
UNION PACIFIC: Stratton/Liberty is alone atop the standings and based on wins over Byers and Limon, the Knighted Eagles are very close to landing the crown. They go to Genoa Hugo on Tuesday and a win there leaves them just one win shy of clinching the title. That clinching win could then come on either Thursday at home against Burlington or on the road to Deer Trail on Friday.
WEST CENTRAL: Cotopaxi is the likely league champion. They’ve already beaten Custer County and Cripple Creek so a victory at home against South Park on Wednesday makes them the official champion. There are just four teams in the conference.
CLASS 2A
BLACK FOREST: Calhan (4-0) and Colorado Springs School (2-0) share first place by one game over Peyton. The Bulldogs and Kodiaks are both 5-3 overall and currently are the only two league teams with an overall winning record. Calhan goes to CSS on Thursday but the Kodiaks must also tangle with Peyton two nights before; on Tuesday.
SANTA FE: League leaders Fowler (5-0) and Rye (2-0) were scheduled to play last week but the game was pushed back to April 23rd as the Thunderbolts deal with a COVID issue. The two clubs lead third place Swink (4-1) by one game. Fowler has beaten Swink but will face the Lions again this Thursday in a non-league game. Rye has plenty of work left as they face Rocky Ford (19th) and Swink (24tH) before and after the big match with Fowler.
LOWER PLATTE: Sedgwick County (6-0) leads Merino and Wiggins (both 5-1) by one game in the conference standings. The Cougars worked five sets in beating Merino early and will face Wiggins on a neutral court this Friday. They collide at Caliche as part of the league triangular there. Merino topped Wiggins last week to stay in the running as they earn second place if Sedgwick County beats Wiggins. All three teams could end sharing the title if Wiggins knocks off the Cougars.
MILE HIGH: Dayspring Christian (8-0), Union Colony Prep (7-0) and Denver Christian (3-0) share the lead. The Thunder have been battling some COVID issues and now they must get in at least four more matches to become playoff eligible. They are the defending state champions. Denver Christian has a whopping eight games left over the final two weeks including battles with Dayspring Christian on the 19th and Union Colony Prep on the 22nd. In between is a final week date between Union Colony Prep and Dayspring Christian on the 20th.
SAN JUAN: As mentioned earlier, Dove Creek from 1A likely grabs the automatic berth from this mixed conference so second place teams Telluride and Dolores must get in through the wildcard process. Telluride faces Dove Creek on Tuesday in a must win game to stay league championship eligible. Dolores has already dropped their league affair with the Bulldogs.
SOUTHERN PEAKS: Del Norte (5-0) sits alone atop the standings by one game over Monte Vista and Sargent. The Tigers have beaten both clubs so they’re in great shape to land the crown and automatic bid. They meet Center on Tuesday and Trinidad on Thursday so wins in both make it official. Sargent and Monte Vista face off on the 22nd. The Farmers also battle Sanford this Saturday.
UNION PACIFIC: With each having a loss to Stratton/Liberty, it appears that Limon and Byers are battling for second place this year. They meet on Thursday with the winner gaining a better standing for a wildcard berth. Based on overall record and statewide ranking; each club is a likely 2A playoff club.
WEST CENTRAL: 1A Cotopaxi is one win away from landing the league championship. Should they beat South Park, the Burros, Custer County and Cripple Creek will wildcard invites to make the regional tournament.
WESTERN SLOPE: Meeker (7-0) and Vail Christian (5-0) are tied for first with Soroco (7-1) lurking a game back in third. Vail Mountain (6-2) is alone in fourth. This race though won’t be decided until the final few days of the regular season. Meeker plays Soroco on the 23rd and Vail Christian on the 24th. Vail Christian has the most difficult remaining schedule with matches against Soroco (21st) and Vail Mountain (23rd) before the finale with Meeker.
CLASS 3A
METRO: Lutheran (6-0) has a one game edge on Prospect Ridge (6-1) and Faith Christian (3-1). Peak to Peak (2-1) remains in the mix but the Pumas have played just three matches overall and must be concerned with becoming playoff eligible first. They must get in four additional matches to do so. Lutheran has beaten Prospect Ridge but doesn’t face Faith Christian until the 21st. That second match could determine the title but first the Eagles must get Prospect Ridge this Tuesday. A loss there virtually gives them the championship to Lutheran. The Lions will also use the final two weeks to prep for the playoffs with matches against Eaton (April 12th), Sterling (17th) and University (19th).
PATRIOT: Eaton (5-0) and Liberty Common (4-0) head into the final stretch tied for the conference lead. Liberty Common and Eaton face off this Saturday. The Eagles though must first get by Platte Valley on Tuesday and Sterling Thursday to make the weekend clash a winner-take-all for the championship. Eaton as mentioned also has a top five battle with Lutheran to open up the week on Monday.
TRI PEAKS: Lamar (6-0) is in very good shape here. They’re alone in first and have already toppled Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs Christian. Manitou shares second with Vanguard and James Irwin. One falls off the second place pace on Thursday when James Irwin goes to Vanguard. Then in the final week; Lamar faces James Irwin on the 19th, James Irwin collides with Manitou Springs on the 20th, Lamar meets Vanguard on the 22nd and Vanguard and Manitou Springs finish up together on the 24th.
WEST SLOPE: Surprising Basalt (5-0) is atop the division by one game over Cedaredge, Coal Ridge and Delta. The Bruins, Titans and Panthers all have one league loss. Basalt has a win over Delta but is challenged Coal Ridge on Thursday and Cedaredge on Friday. The Longhorns will be at home for both. Another key match is earlier as Coal Ridge goes to Cedaredge on Tuesday.
CONFLUENCE: DSST-Byers and Addenbrooke Academy are both 3-0 and remain tied for the league lead. They were scheduled to play last Friday but no results have been turned in and now the game has been taken off the MaxPreps schedule. No new date has been posted.
FRONTIER: DSST-Montview is the likely champion here. They’re unbeaten and lead Middle Park by one game. They also won the head-to-head with the Panthers back on March 19th so two more wins give Montview the championship. DSST-Montview can get those wins early this week against Arrupe Jesuit on Monday and Lake County on Tuesday.
INTERMOUNTAIN: Montezuma Cortez grabbed the conference championship by beating Alamosa for a second time last week. That win kept the Panthers unbeaten overall. They have just one league match remaining; at Pagosa Springs on Thursday. But before finishing up the IML slate, Cortez tangles with Durango on Tuesday. The rivalry match this year is a battle of two league leaders as the Demons also sit atop the 4A/5A Southwestern chase.
