As one of only two juniors to earn first-team all-state honors in Class 3A girls volleyball last season, it was obvious what Alamosa’s Aubrey Rothermich could do.
As a junior, Rothermich helped lead the Mean Moose to the four seed at the state tournament, but the squad went 1-2 in Denver.
Alamosa regrouped though, and with Rothermich performing at an even higher level as a senior – and with the addition of a sensational freshman setter in Ashlyn Rice – the Moose are looking once again like a force to be reckoned with in the 3A classification.
Through the first few weeks of the season, Alamosa (11-1, 3-0 in Intermountain League play) has lost only to current No. 1 Eaton in four sets. The Mean Moose haven’t given up a set in their 11 victories, which included a sweep of league rival Centauri on Tuesday. Rothermich and Laci Christensen combined for 26 kills in that victory, and Rice notched 36 assists.
Rice currently leads the state with 390 assists, according to MaxPreps, an average of more than 10 a set. She also leads the team with 26 serving aces.
Alamosa returns to the court Sept. 26 against Montezuma-Cortez.
Here is a quick look at what lies ahead around the state this week:
Class 5A
Legend at Valor Christian, 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23
This is the rematch of the 5A state championship from last November, won by the Eagles. Both squads are off to a strong start, with Legend’s (10-1) only setback coming to No. 2 Rock Canyon, while Valor Christian (8-1) dropped a game in an out-of-state tournament. The Eagles have only played three in-state opponents, but opened Jeffco League play with a sweep of No. 3 Arvada West on Thursday. Senior Bergin Waitman is leading the team in kills and digs, with Piper McFadden averaging more than 10 assists a set. … Legend has won its first four Continental League games, with a big clash with Chaparral waiting two days after Valor. Senior Reese Betschart and junior Riley Hake have each topped 100 kills, junior Annie Cecil has 34 total blocks, and three players have more than 100 digs.
Class 4A
Thompson Valley at 5A Loveland, 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Two northern teams from different classifications tangle Saturday, with defending 4A champion Thompson Valley making the 3.3-mile trip to face 5A Loveland. Thompson Valley (5-3) is coming off a five-set loss to Longs Peak foe Roosevelt on Thursday night. This is the final non-league matchup for the Eagles. … Loveland (6-2) responded to a Northern League loss to top-ranked Fossil Ridge by topping 4A No. 4 Windsor. The Red Wolves swept Poudre on Thursday night.
Class 3A
Eaton at 4A University, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23
It isn’t a strictly 3A contest, with University competing in 4A, but it’s a big matchup for September in the Patriot League. Eaton (9-1, 3-0) is ranked first in 3A and has only dropped one set since falling to Windsor in the season opener. Senior Madi Smith is averaging 4.6 kills a set and four players have at least 50 digs, paced by Hayden Logan’s 98. … University (6-0, 3-0) hasn’t played as many matches as other squads, but has four contests in eight days to close out September. Sophomore Kenley Rudiger has averaged 7.5 assists a set for the Bulldogs.
Class 2A
Simla at Wiggins, 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Last fall’s top seed at state matches up with the 2024 state runner-up in a non-league tilt. Simla (7-2) avenged a loss earlier this season in tournament play to 1A defending champion McClave with a 25-17, 25-14, 25-19 sweep last Saturday. The team’s only other loss came to 1A’s top-ranked Merino back on Sept. 6. … Wiggins (6-2) has dropped matches to Merino and Fleming, two of the top three ranked teams in 1A. The Tigers have had good balance in the lineup so far this fall in all facets of the game.
Class 1A
Evangel Christian Academy at Flatirons Academy, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23
Flatirons Academy has a few big games during the final week of September, and it starts with Evangel Christian in non-league play. The Bison (10-0) have lost only one set all season, and senior Brylin Gomer (3.9 kills a set) has been a force at the net. Sophomore Lexi Richman is averaging 9.2 assists a set for Flatirons, which visits 2A unbeaten Lyons on Sept. 25. … Evangel Christian (7-1) also faces Lyons still this month, but in tournament play. The Eagles lost to Flagler on Sept. 11 but responded with a sweep of Hanover on Thursday. Juniors Ellie Wagner and Mia Castro have combined for 231 kills, and freshman Alyssa Costain also averages 9.2 assists a set.
