Important league matches are found across the board in Class 2A and 1A volleyball this week and our report breaks down all of them. RPI is also starting to become a factor as teams look to improve those numbers for post-season bracketing.
CLASS 1A
Merino at Otis (Tuesday)
This is a rematch of a contest at the NJC Tournament in mid-September. Merino won that battle in three sets and brings a nine game winning streak into the match. One concern the Rams might have is looking past this match to a big league date with Wiggins later in the week that will determine the outright lead in the Lower Platte. Otis has just three losses against a very good schedule and this starts another tough week as they also meet Prairie on Friday.
Yuma at Kit Carson (Thursday)
It’s a battle of defending state champions and even though Yuma is below five hundred for the season (5-6), the match should be very competitive. The Indians snapped a three-game skid by beating Caliche last week. Their goal is to round into shape before the post-season begins and still be a factor there. Kit Carson has the one loss to La Veta but is otherwise perfect on the season including a tournament title at Simla last Saturday.
Elbert at Pikes Peak Christian (Thursday)
Four teams are 2-1 inside the Black Forest and these are two of them. They’re tied with Evangelical Christian and Kiowa for the conference lead. Elbert and Pikes Peak Christian have the best overall records of the four clubs but Pikes Peak Christian dropped a league match to Kiowa last week.
Prairie at Briggsdale (Thursday)
The second half of the North Central league schedule begins with an important battle between Prairie and Briggsdale. The Mustangs won the first meeting in four sets on September 13th. It’s one of just two losses on the season for the Falcons. Prairie lost sole possession of the conference lead with their loss to Fleming last week. The Wildcats, Mustangs and Falcons all begin the second half stretch at 3-1 in league play.
Otis at Prairie (Friday)
The rematch with Briggsdale is the first of a difficult back-to-back back for Prairie as the Mustangs also tangle with perennial power Otis. The game will impact the RPI quite a bit as Prairie is #2 entering the week and Otis #7. Both remain in line for top overall seeds in their respective district tournaments as well.
Cotopaxi at Antonito (Friday)
Antonito at La Veta (Saturday)
Sangre De Cristo at Cotopaxi (Saturday)
We group these matches together because they will help determine the pecking order in the Southern Peaks chase. La Veta and Sangre De Cristo were expected to face off for the championship again this year while Cotopaxi and Antonito hope to break through their recent stranglehold on the league chase. Cotopaxi is 7-2 on the season and already has a league loss to La Veta so they may need to sweep to remain in the title chase. Antonito (10-2) has losses to Belleview Chrsitian and Kim/Branson but has posted league wins over Manzanola, Primero, Sierra Grande, Aguilar and Centennial. La Veta (10-0) is back in the number one spot of the 1A polls this week and has dropped just two sets all season; both coming in a five set win over Kit Carson. Sangre De Cristo (8-2) has beaten Manzanola, Mountain Valley, Centennial, Sierra Grande and Primero in league play.
Springfield at South Baca (Tuesday)
Kim/Branson at Walsh (Saturday)
Another grouping of more than one match here as the Ark Valley race starts to take shape. The race is considered wide open. Only two league matches have been played thus far and each conference club enters the week at least two games above five hundred for the season. Springfield and Walsh are 1-0 in the conference and each has beaten Wiley. South Baca is 6-0 and Kim/Branson has won eight of their ten matches thus far.
The RPI chase among the teams is also tight. South Baca is ranked the highest at #11 with Kim/Branson #12 and Springfield #13. Wiley is also #16.
CLASS 2A
Haxtun at Yuma (Tuesday)
The Thursday clash between Wiggins and Merino will draw the most attention but this one is also important to the Lower Platte league chase. Yuma has an early league loss to Sedgwick County but still sits one game back of league leaders Merino and Wiggins. They’ve yet to play either so a win keeps them in range of both clubs; regardless of their result on Thursday. Haxtun was 2-0 in the conference but has dropped two of their last three. Those losses are against Merino and Wiggins so their best league finish is probably third. But they need a win over Yuma to keep that hope alive.
Heritage Christian at Dawson (Wednesday)
Heritage Christian at Denver Christian (Friday)
Standings in the Mile High will get a bit more crowded or separate somewhat with results from these two matches. Dawson and Denver Christian are unbeaten in conference and tied with Union Colony Prep atop the standings. Heritage Christian is coming off a loss to Highland last week that dropped them one game off the pace. Now they may need to upset two of the three league leaders to stay in the league championship race. Denver Christian is 11-0 entering the week and should get win #12 on Tuesday against Gilpin County. They scored a huge 3-0 win at Limon last Friday that kept them ranked #1 in Class 2A.
The Thunder are also #1 in the RPI but Union Colony Prep is third so both remain in the race for top overall playoff seed. Highland is 12th, Heritage Christian 18th and Dawson 21st.
Wiggins at Merino (Thursday)
Sole possession of the Lower Platte league lead is on the line in this one. Wiggins is 4-0 in conference and Merino 2-0. The Tigers will be in great shape with a win as they’ve already beaten Sedgwick County. That would leave defending state champion Yuma as their only remaining conference hurdle. Merino still has the Indians and Sedgwick County left on their schedule.
Both teams have won nine straight. Wiggins might have a slight advantage as this is their only match of the week and can concentrate fully on the Rams. Merino, as mentioned, must also deal with Otis on Tuesday.
Soroco at Plateau Valley (Friday)
Both teams are a bit down the list in the Western Slope standings but both still have a chance to crack the top four. Soroco (3-2) is tied for fourth with Vail Mountain while Plateau Valley (4-3) is tied for sixth with Vail Christian. Despite the lower league standing, Plateau Valley is in much better shape in the RPI. They’re ranked #23 and probably safely in the regional bracket. Soroco is 34th and would be right now but they could use a few more quality wins to be safe.
Sanford at Del Norte (Saturday)
Unbeaten in league play, Del Norte leads Sanford and Sargent by one game in the Southern Peaks chase. Del Norte won the first match on September 14th in four sets. They’ve won eight of nine overall since a loss to Ignacio very early in the season. The lone setback in that stretch came against Rye. Sanford is entering a crucial stretch as they also face Sargent next week. They also have a major non-league challenge against 3A power Alamosa in between.
Fowler Tournament (Saturday)
This is a very good four team event as the unbeaten Grizzlies host Limon and Sargent from Class 2A and Lamar from 3A. It’s a simple round-robin format as each team will play the other with the best overall crowned as champion. Limon is #2 in RPI with Fowler #4. Sargent is only #42 but the Farmers should get a nice bump in opponents winning percentage. Lamar is 16th in 3A RPI and hopes to climb into the top 12 and earn the right to host a regional bracket.
