Three weeks remain in the volleyball regular season but most league schedules wind down over the next two.  We look at each league chase across Classes 3A-4A-5A and look at the most important matches on the week.
 

CLASS 3A

  • INTERMOUNTAIN:  Alamosa has a comfortable two game lead with two games to play but the Moose have not clinched the title because the remaining contests are this week with Bayfield and Centauri.  Those two clubs share second place and each sits two games back.  If both teams can upset Alamosa, then all three could share the top spot by the end of the week.  A win in either though clinches the crown for Alamosa.  Two wins give them a second straight perfect run through the league schedule.
  • METRO:  The league title should be decided on Tuesday when Lutheran battles Faith Christian.  Both teams enter the week at 6-0 so the survivor will stand alone in first.  Neither can clinch with a win as each has match remaining with third place Skyview Academy who has just one league loss thus far.  That loss came against Colorado Academy.
  • PATRIOT:  It’s a very important week inside the conference as the top five teams start to square off on a more regular basis.  Eaton and Sterling are both 6-0 and are tied for first with University, Valley and Platte Valley all in third place with one loss apiece.  Eaton has a win over University thus far while the Bulldogs have an important win over Valley.  Platte Valley was stunned at Liberty Common last week to fall out of first.  Of those five leaders, University has the most difficult week as they tangle with Platte Valley in Kersey on Tuesday and then host Sterling on Thursday.  Eaton and Sterling by the way collide on October 29th.
  • TRI PEAKS:  Colorado Springs Christian and Lamar both remain unbeaten in league action and each has a two game edge on Buena Vista and St Mary’s.  The two leaders don’t meet until October 22nd.  Colorado Springs Christian could get tested at Buena Vista this week.  The Demons lost to Lamar last week but still have the head-to-head advantage over St Mary’s in the race for third.
  • WESTERN SLOPE:  The Cedaredge-Coal Ridge matchup on Saturday is probably for all the marbles in this conference.  Both are unbeaten entering the week.  Coal Ridge won the match and league title last year but Cedaredge actually ended up with the better post-season bracketing.  They got a chance to host a regional while the Titans were forced out on the road.  Neither team advanced to Denver but both could very well do so this year.  Coal Ridge also has a nice non-league test with 4A ranked Montrose on Thursday.  Win or lose, that match will boost their RPI.
  • FRONTIER:  Bennett is unbeaten in the conference and leads DSST-Montview by one game.  The Tigers have the head-to-head win so they can clinch the league crown by beating either Jefferson on Tuesday or Middle Park on Thursday.

CLASS 4A

  • COLORADO SPRINGS METRO:  It’s still very early in the league chase as most teams have played just two or three conference matches.  Woodland Park, Canon City, Mesa Ridge and Classical Academy all remain perfect.  One of those teams would not be on the list but last week’s match between Woodland Park and Canon City was lost to weather.  This week, the Panthers are again involved in the most important contest as they go to Classical Academy on Thursday.  Woodland Park has the most wins (11-1) of any league team overall.  Classical Academy (8-3) is next.
  • JEFFCO:  D’Evelyn leads Evergreen by two games and need to win just two of their remaining four matches to wrap up the championship.  That could come this week as the Jaguars are favored against both Standley Lake (Tuesday) and Littleton (Thursday).
  • SOUTH CENTRAL:  Pueblo County took out Pueblo West in four sets last week so the Hornets are alone in first.  They’re also ranked #1 statewide in Class 4A.  Game number two between the Hornets and Cyclones is set for October 24th and that match will determine an outright winner or if the two teams will share the top trophy.  Neither County or West has been threatened by any other league member.
  • TRI VALLEY:  Windsor is 5-0 and leads Erie, Holy Family and Mead (all 3-2) by two games.  Frederick was on the second place list as well but they came up short to Roosevelt on Monday night.  Frederick is quickly back on the court as they challenge Windsor on Tuesday.  The Wizards also tangle with Holy Family on Thursday and wins in both clinch the outright championship.  Windsor will again bump to 5A for the post-season where they reached the state tournament a year ago.
  • WESTERN SLOPE:  Glenwood Springs is 8-0 and leads Palisade (7-1) by one game.  Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley are tied for third but both have three league losses.  Glenwood has a busy week as they face Eagle Valley on Tuesday, Summit on Thursday and Battle Mountain Saturday.  They’ll go for a season sweep of all three as well.  Game two with Palisade is October 24th.  That match will be important if Palisade continues to match Glenwood Springs win for win.  The Bulldogs host Steamboat Springs Friday and Summit on Saturday.
  • COLORADO 7:  Englewood took control of the race by beating Skyview last week.  That moved the Pirates to 8-0 in league play and 11-2 overall.  They’ll drop into Class 3A for the post-season and remain in contention to host a regional.  For Skyview, it was their first overall loss of the season as well.  The two leaders meet against on October 31st.  Englewood this week meets Conifer on Tuesday and Riverdale Ridge on Thursday.
  • PIKES PEAK:  Three league members are in top five of RPI as Discovery Canyon is #2, Lewis Palmer #4 and Palmer Ridge #5 as the week opens.  Lewis Palmer (3-0) and Palmer Ridge (2-0) currently top the league standings with Cheyenne Mountain, Falcon and Discovery Canyon all 1-1.  Each team plays seven league matches so there is plenty of volleyball remaining.  Lewis Palmer and Discovery Canyon collide on Thursday in the most important match.  Palmer Ridge also meets Air Academy on Tuesday.
  • NORTHERN:  This is basically a two-team race between Silver Creek (10-0) and Thompson Valley (9-1).  Longmont is third but the Trojans are two games farther back (7-3).  Silver Creek and Thompson Valley meet again on October 24th.  This week, the Raptors are at Greeley Central and Longmont while the Mustangs play Centaurus and Mountain View.
  • SOUTHWESTERN:  A good race here as Montrose, Fruita Monument and Durango are all 4-1.  All other teams have at least four league losses.  Montrose is at Fruita Monument this Thursday as the Indians go for the season sweep.  They won the first match 3-1.  Durango meets both Montrose and Fruita Monument on the road next week so they have the most difficult remaining schedule.

CLASS 5A

  • COLORADO SPRINGS METRO:  Pine Creek, Rampart and Coronado are all 2-0 in league play and share the early lead.  The only match featuring the league leaders this week can be found Tuesday when Pine Creek goes to Rampart.  Rampart (13-1) has the best overall record and has spent time at the number one spot in the statewide rankings this year.  Pine Creek is 10-5 and will be in the 5A playoff bracket; Coronado (9-5) will drop into Class 4A for the post-season and sitting 7th in RPI, the Cougars are in a good position to host a regional.
  • EAST METRO:  Vista Peak (5-0) and Rangeview (6-0) are the league leaders and they meet October 29th.  Westminster (3-1) remains in contention but they have just one win outside the conference this year.
  • FRONT RANGE:  Broomfield (7-0) has a one game edge on Fort Collins and Horizon (both 6-1).  The Eagles have already beaten Fort Collins will face Horizon next week (22nd).  Horizon lost a five-setter to Fort Collins last month and needs to beat Broomfield to have any chance at the league crown.
  • JEFFCO:  Valor Christian and Ralston Valley are both 4-0 with Bear Creek and Chatfield sharing third at 3-1.  Valor has beaten Chatfield and will face Bear Creek next week.  Ralston Valley has a sweep of Bear Creek and will face Chatfield next Tuesday.  The unbeaten league leaders meet two nights later (24th).
  • CENTENNIAL:  Eaglecrest, Grandview and Cherokee Trail share the top spot with one loss apiece.  The Raptors (6-1) have concluded their league schedule so they will at least keep a share of first place regardless of what else happens.  The other two leaders play on Tuesday as Grandview battles Arapahoe and Cherokee Trail meets Smoky Hill.  A loss by either of course drops them out of first place.  The league crossover matches begin on Thursday.
  • CONTINENTAL:  The entire league takes the week off but going into next week Chaparral (7-0) will stand alone in first thanks to their four set win over Legend (6-1) last week.  Mountain Vista (5-2) is alone in third.  Chaparral has matches left with Highlands Ranch, ThunderRidge and Rock Canyon and wins in at least two land them the championship.
  • CITY:  Thomas Jefferson (10-5) has the best overall record of any league team and the Spartans broke into the 4A Top 10 this week.  League cross over matches start on Thursday as they start the process of crowning an overall champion.