With six teams currently ranked across Class 4A and 3A, the Patriot League is sure to have some hard-fought matchups in the coming weeks.
Then again, that time may have already come. From a battle between 3A No. 6 Strasburg with 4A No. 5 University on Tuesday night, to a much-anticipated showdown between unbeatens No. 2 Eaton and No. 3 Sterling on Thursday, things are already heating up.

Eaton has won its first nine games on the season, but the Reds could have their toughest week of the season coming up. Sterling had dropped only two sets all season headed into Tuesday night’s matchup with Brush, and the same University squad that ended Eaton’s season in the 3A semis last November is up Sept. 24.

Class 5A

After a choppy start to the season that saw four losses in five matches, Castle View has been a team on the upswing. The Sabercats scored a huge upset Sept. 12, handing Mountain Vista its first loss of the season in a five-set thriller. Castle View got a combined 32 kills from Emily Formes and Brooke Humphrey. On Tuesday night, the Sabercats took No. 10 Legend to five sets before falling just short of another upset. … Speaking of the Titans, they take a five-game winning streak into Wednesday’s battle with No. 4 Valor Christian, a rematch of a state semifinal last November. … Denver South picked up a big victory Tuesday night over No. 6 Chatfield. After dropping the first set, the Ravens battled back to take the next three and avenge its only loss of the season.

Game of the (last) week: Castle View 3, Mtn. Vista 2 (25-19, 25-20, 17-25, 14-25, 15-12)
Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 4 Valor Christian at No. 10 Legend, 6 p.m., Sept. 18

Class 4A

Thompson Valley kept its momentum rolling in 2024, handing No. 3 Severance its first loss Tuesday night, 25-12, 25-14, 25-12. Kayla Kauffman led the way with 11 kills. … No. 6 Lutheran downed 5A Grandview in four sets Tuesday night. The Lions face Palisade and Holy Family in tournament play Saturday ahead of a huge showdown with No. 2 Lewis-Palmer on Sept. 24.

Game of the (last) week: Thompson Valley 3, Severance 0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-12)
Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 6 Lutheran at No. 2 Lewis-Palmer, 6 p.m., Sept. 24

Class 3A

One week after defending state champion Resurrection Christian dropped its first game of the season in five sets to top-ranked Platte Valley, the Cougars got back on the winning track with a four-set victory over Forge Christian on Tuesday night. … Platte Valley’s Karsyn Fetzer had 30 kills and 23 digs in the victory over Resurrection Christian on Sept. 10. … Alamosa scored its biggest victory of the season last Saturday, taking down No. 7 Gunnison 3-0. Jaelin Garcia had 10 kills and Taybor Wiedeman led four players in double figures in digs with 16. … Prospect Ridge Academy handed No. 10 Stargate School only its second loss of the season Tuesday night, holding on in five sets.

Game of the (last) week: Prospect Ridge Academy 3, Stargate School 2 (25-8, 16-25, 25-18, 17-25, 15-4)
Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 2 Eaton at No. 3 Sterling, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19

Class 2A

The top three unbeatens remained that way over the past week, each surviving a test. Top-ranked Sedgwick County swept No. 4 Burlington 3-0, with sophomore Ryen Carlson notching 24 digs. No. 2 Simla took down 1A No. 5 McClave 3-0 behind 40 assists and seven aces from Meadow Nusbaum and 12 kills and 14 digs from Carlee Cox. Third-ranked Del Norte went five sets against both Pagosa Springs and Sanford to stay undefeated, with 1A No. 10 Sargent up next Sept. 24. … No. 5 Rangely dropped its first game of the season Sept. 13, falling to Caprock Academy.

Game of the (last) week: Sedgwick County 3, Burlington 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-21)
Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 8 Wiggins at No. 2 Simla, 1 p.m., Sept. 21

Class 1A

Idalia hasn’t played since taking a five-set victory over McClave on Sept. 7, but the third-ranked Wolves return to the court Friday against No. 7 Hi-Plains. One week after that, top-ranked Stratton pays a visit. … No. 5 Cheraw needed five sets to hold off Granada. All five sets were decided by four points or less.

Game of the (last) week: Cheraw 3, Granada 2 (25-21, 24-26, 25-23, 24-26, 15-11)
Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 3 Idalia at No. 7 Hi-Plains, 3 p.m., Sept. 20