Several critical league matches are found on the Thursday volleyball schedule. Several clubs in contention for a conference crown collide head-to-head with winners staying in position to earn automatic bids to the regional tournament.
Photo by OT Sportscheck.
North Park at Soroco / #3 Meeker vs Vail Mountain
We put these two matches together as both could impact the top four spots inside the 2A/1A Western Slope chase. Meeker begins the night tied with idle Vail Christian in first place but Soroco and Vail Mountain are one game back with identical 4-1 records. North Park isn’t in the title mix at this point but they could use some wins to climb back into the playoff picture. They’re just 46th in 1A RPI. Soroco’s league loss came against Vail Mountain last Thursday but they recovered two nights later to upend West Grand in four sets. Seven different Rams collected a kill with Eden Mayer (10), Peyton Parker (9) and Sophia Benjamin (8) leading the list. Emily Romero had six aces and Shelby Geiger added five blocks. Makinley Parker topped the team with 25 diggs and Irene Huff had 22 assists. Meeker’s attack is dominated by sophomore Emma Luce. She has 102 kills in four matches; the rest of the team has totaled 39. She’s been over 20 kills in three of four contests thus far including a whopping 36 in the four-set win over Rangely. Vail Mountain looks to counter with the balanced net attack of Oly Holguin (49 kills), Skye Karsh (47) and Cloe Cunnington (45).
#7 Fowler vs Rocky Ford
After having their much anticipated first-place battle with Rye on Tuesday postponed, Fowler now turns their attention to a long-time rival in Rocky Ford. Both clubs are in the Santa Fe league championship race. The Grizzlies share the top spot with Rye but the Meloneers are tied with Swink in third and one game off the pace. Rocky Ford lost their piece of first place on Tuesday with a five-set loss to Swink. It was a tough loss as the Meloneers led 2-1 before dropping set four 26-24. Swink then grabbed set five 15-9. Lily Hancock powered down 20 kill sin the loss and Gracie Moreland added 14. They also served 17 aces including four apiece from Moreland, Amber Saltzman and Teagan Mendoza-Werner. Mendoza Werner added 41 assists and 22 diggs. Fowler is seeing their first action of the week. They recorded four straight league sweeps since the opening loss to 3A Manitou Springs. Kaley Pieper had 12 kills and Emily Flanscha 10 in their most recent match; a three-game sweep of Holly last Friday.
#1 Wiggins at #6 Merino
This in one of three matches at the Lower Platte triangular as both clubs will also tangle with a good Haxtun club. Wiggins enters the match tied for first with Sedgwick County. Both are 4-0 against conference rivals with Merino in third at 3-1. Their one loss is against Sedgwick County (3-2) so the Rams may be in a must win situation against Wiggins to remain in the league title discussion. A win would also boost Merino’s RPI as they sit 16th in Class 1A. Wiggins is seventh in Class 2A. The Tigers spread it around on offense with Bre Gilliland ((73), Rachael White (65), Lexi McCullough (56) and Tyleigh Fehseke (54) all with at least 50 kills. Jenna White has 150 assists against four errors and Rachael White 115 against seven. Merino has not posted stats to MaxPreps but the Rams appear to be hitting their groove. After an 0-2 start against 3A Sterling and 2A Sedgwick County, they’ve won three in a row; all by sweeps. Haxtun is 2-4 on the season but has pushed Sedgwick County five sets and Otis to four. Allie Thompson has 78 kills and Taylor Schram 62.
#5 Stratton/Liberty at Byers
The winner takes over the top spot in the Union Pacific chase and since Stratton/Liberty has already posted wins over Limon and Flagler, they will be in great shape for the title if they get by the Bulldogs. It won’t be an easy task as the Bulldogs are 6-1 overall and coming off a high-level win over Calhan on Tuesday night. Byers picked up 46 kills in the win; including a season-high 12 from Gillian Sickendick. She also blocked nine attacks. Libby Earl added eight kills and Shannon Sutliff seven. Five Bulldogs recorded at least 12 diggs; led by Symantha Linnebur with 22. Stratton/Liberty’s win over Flagler came in three sets on Tuesday. The first two were somewhat easy (25-11, 25-8) but they had to work to finish it off; taking set three 30-28. Katelyn Klann and Sydnie Santala each had nine kills to pace the offense. Kendyl Saffer (11) and Jaylie Stone (10) also combined for 21 assists. Klann had 14 diggs to lead four players with at least 10.
#9 Kit Carson at Idalia
After scoring a very important league win over McClave earlier this week, Kit Carson returns to the court for a tough road test at Idalia. The sweep of McClave sets up the Wildcats to win another Hi Plains league championship and now they can focus on improving their post-season placement. They are 15th in 1A RPI going into the match. Carson outhit McClave with 28 kills to just nine. They won also won the service line with 11 aces to five. Tieler Randel paced the defense with 13 diggs. Idalia opened 3-0 but has dropped matches to Stratton/Liberty (3-1) and Wray (3-2) this month. They’re led up front by the trio of Jenna Weiser (42 kills), Kyndal Richards (32) and Kylie Wingfield (32). All three are underclassmen.
Machebeuf at Prospect Ridge
Lutheran is unbeaten overall and sits alone atop the 3A Metro but Machebeuf and Prospect Ridge are both in the mix for a top two finish. Each is 5-1 in conference play and sit one game behind the Lions in the league standings. But since each suffered that loss to Lutheran, the best possible finish for either could be second place. Machebeuf gets most of their offense from either Elizabeth Lubbers (72 kills) or Vanessa Burciaga (68). Cecilia Montoya, with 155 assists, gets the ball to that duo. Prospect Ridge also has two major options at the net in seniors Sierra Leopold (84) and Bella Heinmiller (72) who have combined for 156 kills. Addie Freedle (126) and Kenna DeKloe (100) have also recorded 226 total assists.
#6 Lamar at #9 Colorado Springs Christian
A top 10 matchup that will play a role in determining the eventual 3A Tri Peaks championship. Lamar currently sits alone in first but they’re chased by five other clubs with just one league loss. Colorado Springs Christian is one of those clubs. The Lions have a league loss against Manitou Springs. Lamar though beat Manitou Springs two days ago so another victory tonight puts them in the control of the league standings. Sydney Dunning had 14 kills and Fernanda Merancio 12 in the three-game sweep. Merancio also topped the defense with 17 diggs Abby Robbins handed out 25 assists. CSCS recovered from their Manitou loss to take out Vanguard in four sets on Tuesday. Abby Miller finished with 14 of the Lions 32 kills. Taylor Boals cranked out four assists and Miller added three.
Weld Central at Eagle Ridge Academy
This is a very important game to the 3A or 4A post-season as the winner could end up with an automatic bid as the Colorado league champion. Both are also in contention as wildcard teams as Eagle Ridge Academy is 22nd in 3A RPI and Weld Central is 14th in Class 4A. Both are 6-1 on the season. In conference action, Eagle Ridge (2-0) shares the lead with Skyview (3-0) with Weld Central one game behind at 5-1. The Rebels have a league loss to Skyview but have won six straight since dropping that season opener. Paige Morgan (35 kills) and Kyleigh Cardillo (70 diggs) are the top players on each side of the net. Eagle Ridge plays Skyview next Tuesday and that match could determine the league crown if they are winners this evening.
#3 University at Platte Valley
This match shows off the depth of the 3A Patriot league. Neither will likely land the league championship but both have more than enough talent to make the state tournament and then win three matches once they arrive. University looks to rebound from a four-set loss to Eaton on Tuesday. It was a terrific match as all four sets were decided by four points or less. Aesha Alrashed topped the Bulldogs with 11 kills and five blocks. Taylor Viken and Kylie Williams each added nine kills and Caitlin Harr had 26 diggs. Platte Valley is just 1-3 in conference but those losses are against #1 Eaton, #4 Sterling and #5 Resurrection Christian. Now they face the third ranked Bulldogs.
#2 Cheyenne Mountain vs Lewis Palmer
Regardless of record, this matchup always makes our list as top games of the day as the clubs have combined to win the last 12 state championships in Class 4A. But it has a different feel this year as the Indians enter the match ranked #2 with a 5-0 record and the Rangers outside the rankings and winless in five contests. The Rangers have played a brutal schedule with losses to 4A top ten clubs Palmer Ridge and Discovery Canyon and against 5A city rivals Doherty, Pine Creek and Liberty. Cheyenne Mountain has quality wins over Discovery Canyon (3-2) and Rampart (3-2). They swept Vista Ridge on Tuesday behind a combined 36 kills by Emma Delich (13), Sydney Morland (12) and Karlee Pinell (11). Jesse Duytschaever had 33 assists.
#3 Niwot vs Thompson Valley
Possibly a sneaky good pairing in Class 4A as both teams enter the contest a combined 12-0. Ranked third this week, Niwot has drawn much more attention but the Eagles will jump into the rankings next week if they spring the upset. The results will determine first place in the Longs Peaks as they’re the last two unbeatens in conference play. Thompson Valley has not dropped a set in beating Northridge, Fort Morgan, Mountain View and Roosevelt. Freshman Chloe Duzenack is their top hitter with 38 kills. Abbie McCrimmon has 21 aces and 117 assists over 12 sets. McKenna Crews has 43 diggs. Niwot topped local rival Longmont 3-1 on Tuesday taking the last two sets by identical 25-23 scores. Zoe Gibbs finished with 18 kills and Morgan Daugherty 13. Angie Xu had 38 assists.
#7 Valor Christian at #10 Columbine
Three teams from the Jeffco are in the 5A rankings as the Eagles and Rebels join #8 Ralston Valley in the poll this week. Valor has a loss to Chatfield so they may have more pressure to win as a loss knocks them two games out of first. The Eagles also tangle with Ralston Valley next Tuesday so they’re entering a key stretch. Columbine doesn’t face Ralston Valley (20th) and Chatfield (23rd) until much later this month so a win allows them to keep pace with the Mustangs and Chargers in first. Abi Nua has 57 kills in three matches for Columbine. Valor is led up front by Hailey Bowman (36 kills) and Erin McNair (34). Freshman Grace Langer is third with 29.
