With just two weeks remaining in the volleyball regular season for Classes 1A and 2A, the matches take on more importance. Many clubs can move very close or clinch outright a league championship with wins this week and of course all clubs are now focused on RPI. That’s even more important in Class 2A where the top 12 clubs in those standings at year’s end will host regional tournaments.
CLASS 1A
- Belleview Christian at Mile High Academy – Tuesday: Both teams are unbeaten in the 5280 so the winner gets the inside track to the league championship. Both clubs also lead third place teams by at least two games so the losing team probably finishes no worse than second. Mile High Academy is unbeaten overall and sits 7th in RPI standings with Belleview Christian 16th.
- Springfield at Walsh – Tuesday: The Longhorns can clinch the Ark Valley title with a win as they sit 3-0 and this is their final conference match. Walsh is tied with South Baca in second place and fell out of first with last week’s loss to the Patriot (3-2). A Walsh win creates a likely three-way tie for the championship. Springfield is 10th in RPI and Walsh is 26th.
- Fleming at Prairie – Tuesday: The first of two important meetings for the Wildcats who also take on Briggsdale later in the week. Fleming is 5-1 in league play and tied with Briggsdale for the lead with Prairie just one game back. Fleming won the first meeting with the Mustangs who may play this match without standout Hannah Kinnison. We’re unsure of her status following another injury earlier this month.
- Kiowa at Evangelical Christian – Friday: Both teams have one league loss and both are tied with Elbert atop the Black Forest conference race. Evangelical Christian has already beaten Elbert so another win in this one gives them the league championship advantage. Their league loss came against Edison. Elbert and Kiowa play in the final week of the season.
- Briggsdale at Fleming – Friday: A big one inside the North Central as both teams are 5-1 in league play and the winner gets a big advantage in the race for the title. A top district seed is also a factor as Briggsdale is 4th and Fleming is 8th. Prairie is in third place in the standings but the Mustangs have the highest ranking in the RPI (3rd) entering the week. Briggsdale won the first meeting in four sets on September 5th. Fleming has won 13 straight since.
- Otis at Idalia – Friday: This is maybe the only league test left for Otis in the YWKC. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four matches overall but are unbeaten in the conference. The Wolves are coming off a loss to Arickaree/Woodlin that ended their short two-match winning streak. Otis is 9th in RPI.
CLASS 2A
- Union Colony Prep at Dawson – Tuesday: This is the first two big matches in the Mile High this week as Highland also goes to Denver Christian on Thursday. Union Colony heads into this contest sharing the top spot with DC and Dawson was in that group until last week’s loss to Dawson. Now the Mustangs share third place with Highland but of course are on the short end of that tiebreaker.
- Fowler at Rocky Ford – Tuesday: The Grizzlies are still in line for a potential Santa Fe championship as they’re in a first place tie with Swink. Both teams are 9-1. Rocky Ford sits third with Rye but the Meloneers and Thunderbolts each have three league losses and don’t have much time left to make up that two game gap. This is the only match between the local rivals. Fowler and Swink face off again on the 29th.
- Highland at Denver Christian – Thursday: A second battle inside the Mile High among the top four clubs. If Union Colony beats Dawson on Tuesday, then Denver Christian must win to keep pace. If Dawson wins that earlier match, then the Thunder are alone in first with a win in this one. Wins by Dawson and Highland this week will leave all four teams sharing first place. The league could also get three teams to host regionals. Denver Christian is #1 in RPI and Union Colony Prep is 5th so both appear safe to be at home for post-season play. Highland is 12th on the bubble as the top 12 teams earn the right to host a regional. Dawson is 20th.
- Merino at Sedgwick County – Thursday: The Rams also play Wray on Tuesday and wins in both give them the outright championship in the 1A/2A Lower Platte league. Merino is is unbeaten in league play with a one game edge on Wiggins and they’ve already beaten the Tigers. The Rams also top all of Class 1A in RPI with their 13-1 record. Sedgwick County is also playing for a top two finish as they’re tied with Yuma in third. Both are just one game back of Wiggins in the race for second.
- Yuma at Wiggins – Friday: Another important contest to help sort out the top four spots in the Lower Platte. Wiggins can move very close to clinching the runner-up spot with a win in this one but the Indians can get to second with a win and Sedgwick County loss to Merino. A loss likely leaves Yuma in the fourth spot due to a very early loss to Sedgwick County.
- Simla at Fountain Valley – Friday: A bit unusual to have Fountain Valley on our list this late in the season but the Danes are currently alone in first by one game atop the Black Forest standings. They have a loss to Colorado Springs School but that came in a non-league game as they will face the Kodiaks for the conference battle next week. Simla has a very early league loss to Peyton but is likely favored as they’re 12-3 overall.
- Meeker at Paonia – Friday: The match is probably more important to Paonia as the Eagles are in a tight battle with Vail Christian and Soroco in the race for third. All three teams are 6-3 and two back of West Grand. Meeker leads the conference race and is unbeaten through their first nine contests.
- Simla at Limon – Saturday: This game of course does not factor into conference races but it’s a good rivalry and a good gauge of where both teams are near the end of the season. Both are in good shape to host a regional as Limon begins the week 3rd and Simla is 9th. Momentum could be crucial for the Cubs based on their result against Fountain Valley the night before.
