As conference play picks up speed across the state, Colorado Preps this week breaks up the weekly volleyball report into two updates.  Here we will focus on the top matchups in Classes 1A and 2A and on Tuesday preview the most important meetings in the remaining three divisions.
 

CLASS 1A

Fleming at Weldon Valley (Friday)
One of these clubs will suffer a second league loss and fall two games back of first place Prairie in the rugged North Central.  Fleming came up short to Briggsdale in their league opener while the Warriors dropped their first of two meetings with Prairie earlier this month.
Fleming is coming off a tournament title at Machebeuf where they beat three 3A schools and a 4A opponent to land the crown.  Sophomore Whitney Chintala notched 39 kills in the four matchups including 15 in the championship win over 3A Prospect Ridge.   She had identical numbers in digs (39 & 15) on the day.  Kally Kirkwood collected 26 kills and Kendy Kirkwood finished the weekend with 111 assists on the season.  She registered a season high 20 assists against Machebeuf and added 18 vs. Prospect Ridge.
Weldon Valley played 2A rival Wiggins twice over a five day stretch and split the two meetings.  They survived the Tigers 3-2 in the annual River Rivalry game and then fell in three sets as part of the Brush Tournament.  They’ve not posted full stats for the season but have great leadership in the likes of Katlyn Keating and Kenndra Filter.
Flagler/Hi Plains at Otis (Friday)
With Flagler/Hi Plains moving over to the Union Pacific, this is not a league contest anymore but it will still very important to RPI standings and post-season bracketing.  Both teams are again in the Top 10 this week.
Otis has just two losses on the season and both came against ranked opponents.  The Bulldogs lost to Merino in the finals of the NJC Tournament and then came up just short in a five-set marathon at Genoa Hugo on Saturday.  Becca Bleak (64 kills) is the top hitter and Rachel Patterson (112 digs) seems to be the defensive leader.  Annalise Glosson (99 assists) directs the offense.
The Thunder have played just two matches thus far; beating Deer Trail in three and Cheyenne Wells in five.  This is a difficult week as they also face #2 Limon (2A) in a key league encounter.  Katelyn Klann (17 kills) leads a good group of hitters that also includes Micaela Heger and Sydnie Santala (both with 14).  Kendyl Saffer has a team best 55 assists.
Limon at Flagler/Hi Plains (Thursday)
As mentioned above, this is a key game inside the Union Pacific.  Limon has already posted a five set win over Genoa Hugo and another win on Thursday could give them the league championship.  That situation likely leaves the Thunder to battle with Genoa Hugo for spots two and three.  All three clubs remain in the league title chase with a win by Flagler/Hi Plains.
McClave at Kit Carson (Tuesday)
Kit Carson is ranked #3 in the state and this might be the only hurdle for them in winning another Hi Plains league championship as the Cardinals are the only other conference member with a record above .500 at this point.  The Cards are 3-2 but coming off a tough 3-2 loss to Walsh.  Sophomores Maggie Chase (12) and Anna Beckett (8) combined for 20 kills while senior Kaitlyn Roesch added 10 digs.  Kit Carson rebounded nicely from the loss to La Veta by sweeping Springfield last week.  Allison Gekeler had nine kills, Cally Rady and Tess Johnson seven apiece.  Tieler Randel added 16 digs, Rady had 11 and Jordyn Weeks 10.  Reyna Isenbart added 25 assists.
 

CLASS 2A

Fowler at Rye (Tuesday)
Fowler at Swink (Thursday)
We group these matches together because we feel the three teams involved all have a chance to land the Santa Fe championship.  The league is more wide open than in the past with up to seven teams in contention, but these three have tradition on their side and can rely on experience in big matches to maybe move past others.  Fowler is unbeaten in league play and tied with Rocky Ford and Swink atop the early standings.  Rye sits one game back.
The Grizzlies are led up front by Emily Flanscha (40) and Kaley Pieper (39) with a combined 79 kills.  Three others are in double figures so there is depth there.  Brooke Bell has 51 digs and Avery Boulding 49.  Jayden Osborne, with 116, is the first line setter.
Swink is coming off a tough five-set loss to Sanford last week but features one of the top players in Class 2A in Brooklyn Mueller.  The senior has 106 kills, which is 60 more than any other teammate.  Her season high of 22 came against Crowley County.  Mueller also paces the Lions with 32 aces.  Rylee Platt (138 digs) and Jasmin Gonzales (109 assists) are two other key contributors.
Rye’s lone league loss is against Swink so another setback to Fowler puts them in a tough spot.  They also have a tough road test at Hoehne on Tuesday this week.  Tess Zupanic tops the Bolts with 48 kills, Ashlyn Romine is the leader in digs with 164 and Audrey Himmelberg has chipped in 116 assists.
Haxtun at Wiggins (Tuesday)
Akron at Yuma (Thursday)
Sedgwick County at Akron (Friday)
For the first time since 2013, the Lower Platte league title may go to a team other than Yuma and that makes all three of these early showdowns important.  Starting the week, Wiggins, Haxtun and Sedgwick County share the top spot with identical 2-0 records while Akron is 1-1.  Yuma is 0-1 and still a threat despite their loss to Sedgwick County.
Stats are hard to come by for all clubs involved.  Sedgwick County has won four straight since their 1-2 start and that streak has pushed them into the 2A rankings this week.  Wiggins is 6-2 but is unbeaten against 2A competition.  They also have a tough date at fellow top 10 member Union Colony Prep on Saturday.  Akron lost to Wiggins in league play but beat Wray.  Their match with Yuma this week is their first since September 7th.  Yuma is coming off a rugged five set home loss to Limon that dropped them out of the rankings.  Haxtun has produced their only two wins inside league play with wins over Holyoke (3-1) and Caliche (3-0).  They drop into Class 1A for the post-season and will face off with Flagler/Hi Plains and Otis for the district title.
Limon at Meeker (Saturday)
This game marks a very tough and quick turnaround for Limon.  The Badgers face a key league match with 1A Flagler/Hi Plains on Thursday but then hit the road early west for a date with Meeker.   The Cowboys are fourth in the latest 2A rankings with Limon sitting at number two.
Limon is coming off a long but profitable week thanks to five set victories over Genoa Hugo and Yuma.  Sidney Hines registered 28 kills in the two wins and Trista Marx added 27.  Brooke Younger led the team in digs in both matches; 13 vs Flagler/Hi Plains and 10 against Yuma.  Amy Weisensee had a combined 33 assists and Lauren Stang finished with 11 in each.
Meeker has won their last three following a loss to 3A Cedaredge.  Their latest victory came last week against Vail Mountain but it took the Cowboys five sets to get it.  Julia Dinwiddie topped the team with 14 kills, Caleigh Morgan added nine and Emma Luce ended up with seven.  Addie Joy (21) and Becca Steerman (16) combined for 37 assists while Kristen Brown (21) and Sarah Kracht (18) totaled 39 digs.
West Grand at Plateau Valley
While Meeker remains favored to land the Western Slope title, early results indicate these two clubs could make a push for the top spot or least a top three finish.  West Grand (7-1) is 2-0 and tied with Paonia, Meeker and Rangely for the early lead. Plateau Valley is one of several teams with one league loss.
Emma DeSanti (71 kills) and Alex Schake (63) are 1-2 in hitting for the Mustangs.  Mikayla Shearer (124 digs) and Schake (121) hold down the same places in digs.  Josephine Wheatley (116 assists) and DeSanti (99) both see time at setter.
Plateau Valley is 5-1 with the loss coming against league rival Vail Mountain.  They responded by edging Norwood in five sets last week.  This is their only match of the week so they can give the Mustangs their full attention.  Hannah Piland (36 kills) leads the team in hitting but is getting plenty of support from freshman Maddisyn Miller (27).
Mancos at Dolores (Thursday)
Telluride at Ignacio (Saturday)
Dolores took early control of the San Juan chase by beating Dove Creek and Telluride last week.  The Bears shared the title with Dove Creek last year so the win was crucial in their hopes for a 2019 league crown.  They also received some help from others as Mancos then Ignacio and Telluride then beat Mancos.  So both games are very important to the three teams chasing Dolores.  A loss drops them at least two games off the pace very early in the chase.
Telluride picked up 11 kills in the win over Mancos and Kyra Levan had four aces.  Ignacio, which enters a key stretch with Telluride this week and Dolores next, earned a whopping 27 aces in their win over Mancos.  Marisa Carmenoros topped the list with nine and Alexis Pontine had six.
Jordan Elder topped Dolores with 32 kills last week.  Kammi Wilbanks had 36 total assists.
Wiggins at Union Colony Prep
Both teams have important league matches on Tuesday before they begin prepping for this Top 10 clash. Wiggins meets Haxtun inside the Lower Platte and the Timberwolves tangle with Highland.  Mayson Fago has a hitting percentage of nearly 56 percents and paces the Wolves with 101 kills.  Kamryn Arnold is next with 55.