It’s not a large Friday volleyball schedule but there are some heavyweight matches among it including high level league battles between Fleming-Briggsdale, Alamosa-Montezuma Cortez, Durango-Montrose and Denver South-Thomas Jefferson. Merino and Meeker both scored impressive wins on Thursday and must quickly rebound for tough road trips tonight. Colorado Preps provides a look at all six matches in our Friday preview.
Photo provided by OT Sportscheck.
#1 Fleming at #3 Briggsdale
The finals rematch from 2019 carries quite a bit of importance during the 2021 season as well. The winner grabs the North Central championship, stays at or near the top of the statewide rankings and moves very close to wrapping up a home court advantage in the regional tournament set to start next month. Fleming enters the match #2 in RIP with Briggsdale at #16. The Falcons have two losses but both are against 3A opponents in University and Platte Valley. Fleming has quality wins over Kit Carson, Wiggins, Wiley and Sedgwick County on their resume to date.
Virtually the entire roster from both teams in the state final return for another state title run this year. In the championship win, Kally Kirkwood had 20 kills and Whitney Chintala 19 and they currently sit 1-2 in that category for Fleming this season. Kendyl Kirkwood finished with 34 assists in the win and tops the team in that category as a senior this Spring. Briggsdale graduated Kimberlyn Krise (14 kills) and Talia Donoho (20 assists) from the runner-up squad but Kylie Krise (7 kills) and Shelby Hoffman (37 diggs) both return for the Falcons.
#6 Merino at #5 Limon (2A)
Curious to see how Merino responds to the quick turnaround after knocking off top ranked Wiggins (2A) in Lower Platte league on Thursday. That four-set win created a two-way tie between the two clubs for second place in the conference standings. Both trail Sedgwick County by one game going into the final two weeks of the regular season. The Rams also worked through four sets in beating Haxtun last night so they could have some tired legs on the road tonight.
Several players contributed for the Rams against Wiggins. Taysa Conger had 19 kills, Makenna Sutter 10 and Faith Trenkle nine. Ryann Briggs and Conger both recorded 29 diggs while Sutter and Trenkle each finished with 27. Madison Sutter handed out 34 assists.
Limon has losses to unbeaten 1A clubs Stratton/Liberty and Simla but are coming off a quick three-game sweep of Deer Trail on Tuesday. Trista Marx, who was named 2A girls basketball player of the year earlier this week, tops the Badgers with 75 kills and 38 diggs. Michiah Leeper, a second team all-state selection in hoops, is second with 55 kills. Senior Bree Bandy averages nearly eight assists per set and has a team-best 142 on the season.
#3 Meeker at Olathe
Like Merino, Meeker faces a quick road turnaround after pulling off a tremendous victory on Thursday. The 3rd ranked Cowboys trailed visiting Vail Mountain 0-2 before winning the final three sets. And those wins didn’t come easy as they were by a total of seven points (25-22, 25-23, 15-13). Emma Luce had 92 attacks and ended the night with a whopping 37 kills. She also had six aces. Sarah Kracht added five kills and 17 diggs. Lea Knapp topped the Cowboys with 19 kills and Tatum Kennedy handed out 28 assists.
Olathe (5-1) will be another tough out as the Pirates’ only league loss came against Vail Christian (3-1) last month. They carry a four-match winning streak into the pairing including a sweep of Caprock Academy on Tuesday. Daisy Ibarra (49 kills), Ashlee Green (33) and Sadie Shea (25) all get in their swings behind the setting of Makena Liles (99 assists). Anastasia Bollinger, with 79 diggs, is a top defender.
#8 Alamosa at #10 Montezuma Cortez
This top 10 rematch should decide the 3A Intermountain league championship. Alamosa is ranked higher in statewide polling but it’s the Panthers who have the top spot in the conference. They have the one game edge on second place Alamosa as they beat the Moose in three sets back on March 23rd. In that win, Avery Wright put together 11 kills, Myka Glover added eight and Devon McHenry seven. Alamosa totaled just 20 kills over three sets with Mary Masias (7) and Alyssa Crowther (6) leading the way. McHenry (11 diggs) led the Panthers defense and Lora Ortega topped the Moose with 14. Ortega added 18 assists for Alamosa and Adezdiin Boeckman had 20 for the Panthers.
A win clinches the league championship and a playoff berth for Montezuma Cortez. Such a result would give them a two edge and two wins over Alamosa with just two conference games remaining. Alamosa though forces a tie for the top spot if they avenge the first loss. Both clubs are in position to host a 3A regional as well with Cortez sitting fourth in RPI points and Alamosa eighth.
#10 Durango at Montrose
If the rematch is anything like the first meeting, then we should see a very good contest. Durango won the first battle in five sets; rallying from down two sets to one at home. Three of the five sets played were decided by three points or less. That result separates the two clubs in the 4A/5A Southwestern league standings. Durango is alone in first at 4-0 with Montrose and Fruita Monument both a game back in second place. Fruita kept pace by beating Grand Junction Central (3-0) on Thursday night and the Wildcats still have a match remaining with both.
Mason Rowland had a huge match in the first battle as the sophomore finished with 21 kills. The Demons also received 14 kills from Paige Ammerman as they totaled 49 in the win. Leah Wesley, with 43 diggs, sparked a defense that included solid efforts from Kyle Rowand (26 diggs) and Lainey Voss (18). Paige Ammerman had 25 assists and Rowland managed 22 in addition to her big hitting night.
Denver South (5-1) at Thomas Jefferson (5-0)
Neither team is ranked but this is a very important contest inside the 4A/5A Denver Public League. Both are unbeaten in conference play and tied with Denver East in first place. Tonight’s winner stays in line for the coveted league championship and the automatic playoff berth that goes with it. Thomas Jefferson is 9th in RPI and is likely a 4A playoff team even if they don’t win the league crown. Denver South though is 21st in 5A RPI and is squarely on the bubble. A league championship of course would get them in regardless of that number.
Full stats have not been posted by Denver South but top hitters include Imani Brewer, Georgi Hayes and Alyssa Robertson. Mayson Osterloo is the main setter as she provided 54 assists through the first two matches.
Thomas Jefferson is 5-0 and lost their first set of the season on Wednesday in beating Northfield 3-1. Laila Hilton picked up 15 kills and now has 49 for the season. She’s one of six Spartans with at least 18 kills. Zoe Henke provides a team best 41 diggs and 16 aces while Abbey Eivins (56 assists) and Kira Kennedy (41) share time at setter.