Unlucky 13 is the number of matches we preview for the April Fools volleyball preview. Several matches are important to early conference races and will likely end playing a major role in crowning the champions at seasons end.
Photo provided by OT SportsCheck.
#6 Sedgwick County vs #10 Yuma
Yuma sees their first actin of the week after going 1-2 at the Kit Carson tournament last Saturday. That left them 2-3 for the season but their tough schedule keeps them in the 2A Top 10. That tough slate continues again this evening with a test against #6 Sedgwick County. Both teams also battle Haxtun as part of the Lower Platte triangular. Elle Roth (49), Ema Richardson (31) and Caddis Robinson (24) lead Yuma in kills and the trio gets most of the hitting opportunities as no other player has more than six. Roth, with 62 digs, is also the top defender with help from Jayci Mekelburg (47) and Shelby Blach (37). Lea Richardson (92 assists) does most of the set up on offense. Sedgwick County (4-0) remained unbeaten overall with a pair of five-set wins over Merino and Holyoke last Saturday. They also own a previous non-league win over Haxtun which also went five sets.
#4 Kit Carson at Rocky Ford
Rocky Ford has beaten Custer County and John Mall but in-between dropped a road match with Springfield. All three matches were done in three sets. Now the Meloneers get a second crack at a top 10 opponent from Class 1A but they get the Wildcats at home. Senior Lily Hancock tops Rocky Ford with 32 kills while Grace Moreland (17) and Nevaeh Rodriguez (16) provide nice support. Moreland also has a team high 12 aces. For Kit Carson, this will be their sixth match since last Friday. The last came on Tuesday night where they swept Cheraw. Tess Johnson led the way with 11 kills and Kenzie Waggoner added seven. Tieler Randel popped up 32 diggs and Waggoner had 10. Allison Gekeler handed out 15 assists.
#5 Simla vs Pikes Peak Christian
This could turn out to be a key early game inside the 1A Black Forest chase as the two could battle the likes of Elbert and Evangelical Christian for the league crown and automatic playoff berth. Ranked 5th statewide, the Cubs are favored. They’ve been on the court just once and it’s been a while as they moved past Calhan 3-1 back on March 20th. Kaitlyn Rector and Halle Lutz combined for 36 kills and 10 aces in that win. Pikes Peak Christian is also 1-0 with their win coming this week against Cripple Creek in three.
#6 Otis vs Flagler
Flagler enters the challenge of beating the 6th ranked Bulldogs fresh off a tough five-set loss to 2A Byers on Tuesday night. The match was tight throughout with the Panthers dropping their three sets by a total of seven points including a game five that finished 17-15. Katelynn Klann collected 13 kills and Sydnie Santala nine. Skylar Hawks picked up 17 digs, Klann 16 and Jaylie Stone 10. Otis dropped a season opening match with Stratton/Liberty but has since quickly moved past Wray and Peetz in three sets apiece. Seniors Anthoneya Schaffert (46 kills) and Becca Bleak (42) are very productive up front with freshman Ali Hornung (97 assists) stepping in nicely as setter.
#8 Dolores at Del Norte
The Bears and Tigers are a combined 6-5 but both expect to be in the regional bracket when the pairings come out last month. Dolores should battle with 1A Dove Creek for the San Juan crown and Del Norte always seems to be in the Southern Peaks title mix. The Bears have won two straight; beating Norwood 3-1 last Saturday and Mancos 3-0 two nights ago. Erin Brown had 19 kills against Norwood and added 23 more against Mancos. She has 94 for the season. Del Norte had won two straight before falling to Sangre De Cristo (3-0) on Tuesday. Kelci Madrid has posted some high-level defensive numbers thus far; recording 116 digs through five matches. Her older sister, Kaeci also tops the offense with 44 kills.
#9 Hoehne at Rye
Four teams are unbeaten in the early 2A Santa Fe chase and the Farmers and Thunderbolts are both on that list. The winner steps forward as the likely top challenger to preseason favorite Fowler with Rocky Ford also in the mix. Rye is 3-0 overall with their league win over John Mall (3-0) in their season opener. Abbi Sammons and Morgan Elarton led the offense with six kills apiece and Havilah Pitzer chipped in five kills and five blocks. Jolee Ortiz served up four aces. Hoehne enters off a wild five-set loss to Alamosa on Tuesday night. Their league win came against Las Animas last Saturday.
Vail Mountain at Soroco
Much like the Hoehne-Rye clash in the Santa Fe, the Gore Rangers and Rams get together in a Western Slope battle to see which team steps up at the challenger to Meeker in the conference chase. They’re a combined 5-1. Soroco has swept Caprock Academy, Hotchkiss and Rangely with the hitting of Makinley Parker (22 kills), Peyton Parker (18) and Sophia Benjamin (13) leading the way. Irene Hoff (31 assists) and Emily Romero (24) both see time at setter. Vail Mountain opened 2-0 but dropped a 3-1 match to Olathe on Saturday. Cloe Cunningham (19 kills), Oly Holguin (16) and Skye Karsh (14) are their top options on offense.
#1 Eaton at #9 Platte Valley
All these programs have done over the years is combine for 23 state championships. The Broncos have a state best 14 overall titles but they haven’t lifted the top trophy since 2003. Eaton has nine championships in their trophy case with the most recent in 2017 when they finished off a stretch of five in a row. Based on their current ranking, both teams are in the title chase again in 2021. Platte Valley (2-2) has conference losses to top 10 rivals Sterling and Resurrection Christian so a third likely takes them out of the league title mix. In the 3-0 loss to Resurrection Christian earlier this week, the Broncos compiled just 16 kills to 31 for the Cougars. Cora Schissler handed out 13 assists and Brooke Bunting picked up 11 digs. Eaton, which also has Sterling and University coming up in their next two, has just one match thus far; sweeping Brush on Tuesday night. Sydney Leffler had 13 kills and Abbey Hays eight. The Reds also finished with 16 aces including four apiece from Rylee Martin and Leffler.
#5 University vs #6 Resurrection Christian
A second heavyweight clash in the 3A Patriot is found in Greeley between two unbeaten clubs. Both teams already have impressive resumes. Resurrection Christian started the season outside the top 10 but jumped in quickly thanks to wins over Sterling (3-1) and Platte Valley (3-0). A win tonight likely leaves them no worse than a top two conference finish by seasons end. In Tuesday’s sweep of Platte Valley, Reagan McWhinney powered down 11 kills and Aly Reeser netted nine. Aly (13) and Lexi Reeser (14) also combined for 27 digs. Tonight’s match begins a rough stretch for the Bulldogs as they play Brush on Saturday and then face the gauntlet of Eaton, Platte Valley and Sterling all next week. They last played on Saturday; sweeping 1A power Briggsdale behind 10 kills apiece from Logan Conlin and Kylie Williams. Chole Ruhl chipped in nine. Ruhl and Caitlan Harr added 22 digs each.
#4 Colorado Springs Christian at Manitou Springs
More often than not, the winner of this match ends up with the 3A Tri Peaks championship and that could be the case again this year. Both are unbeaten on the season but each has the brunt of their schedule still ahead of them. Manitou Springs had 11 days off in-between their first two wins; topping Fowler on March 18th before sweeping La Junta on the 30th. They also meet Lamar on Tuesday so the next five days could determine their championship hopes. Avah Armour has 27 kills in her first two matches including 18 in the four-set win over Fowler. Offensive balance comes from Katy Vance (17 kills) and Ayla Flett (11). Junior Alexia Vigil directs the offense and she’s already posted 58 assists. Colorado Springs Christian beat James Irwin (3-1) in their first court appearance two nights ago. The Lions finished with 37 kills as a group with Abby Miller getting 15 of them. Kayla Merckx was next with nine. Angelina Maestas, with five aces, was an impact from the service line and also led the Lions with 15 digs. Kiersten Brock added 37 assists.
Palisade at Glenwood Springs
Eagle Valley (3-0) tops the 4A Western Slope standings with the winner of this one staying just one game off the pace. The Bulldogs are 2-1 and Demons 1-1 in conference play. Palisade already has a league loss to the first-place Devils so a second conference setback puts them in a tough spot regarding the title chase. They’re coming off an exhausting five set win over 2A Cedaredge on Tuesday night. They dropped two sets by two points apiece before dominating set five 15-4. Glenwood started 1-3 but has swept Aspen and Summit in their last two. Juniors Charlotte Olszewksi (43) and Kenzie Winder (32) are the top two hitters and have combined for 75 kills.
#9 Woodland Park at Palmer
With all the great programs from Colorado Springs on the 4A level, Woodland Park often gets left out of the conversation of top programs but the Bobcats are 5-0 already and ranked 9th in the most recent rankings. Included on their resume is a quality sweep of Air Academy in the season opener. They’ve dropped just one set on the season and this match should serve as good preparation for a big match with Coronado next Tuesday. Stat leaders so far include Trinity McCabe (37 kills), Sydney Roshek (89 digs) and Giana Roskam (85 assists). Palmer is quietly 3-1 with a lone loss to Air Academy. They responded to the loss by sweeping Widefield and Mesa Ridge in their last two. Savannah Everett is the top offensive threat with team highs in kills (54) and aces (15). Hailie Pate (53 digs) and Calyna Garcia (46) lead the defense.
Pueblo West at Pueblo South
Tonight’s winner takes over sole possession in the South Central chase. They have identical conference marks of 3-0 and both are also 4-1 on the season. And it’s the first of two league meetings as they will get together on April 20th. West lost their season opener to Liberty in five sets but has since rolled to four straight sweeps including league victories over Central, County and East. Four Cyclones have at least 29 kills; led by the duo of Bella Adams (66) and Taylor Skoglund (51). They’ve also combined for 26 aces. Katie Gallery has already totaled 181 assists against just nine errors. South has given up sets to both East and County in league play but enter the match on a three-game winning streak. Isabella Brown, with 61 kills, is the main option on offense but five other Colts sit between 11 and 24. Isabella Arriaga has 18 aces and Carlie Sweckard 13. Those two also share setter duties with a combined 104 assists.
