Week two of the volleyball schedule is upon us and there are several highlights on the schedule for the week ahead.
The photo for the story is provided by Van Hollis.
FUN WEEK IN CLASS 5A
Virtually every night of the week gives fans in the big school ranks a top 10 matchup that will help sort out the early rankings and power teams. Results will also factor into regional tournament bracketing when the post season arrives. #4 Mountain Vista and #9 Cherokee Trail have the most difficult week as each program is involved in two heavyweight clashes.
- #3 Chaparral at #9 Cherokee Trail (TUES)
- #2 Cherry Creek at #4 Mountain Vista (WED)
- #6 Valor Christian vs #7 Legend (THURS)
- #4 Mountain Vista at #9 Cherokee Trail (FRIDAY)
SOME LEAGUE PLAY GETS STARTED
The week brings us a small sprinkling of league activity across the entire state. League champs earn automatic placement in the regional tournament so each of these matches below carry significant weight even though come very early on the schedule.
- 1A: #3 Briggsdale vs Prairie (TUESDAY)
- 1A: #2 Fleming vs Weldon Valley (THURS)
- 2A: #8 Fowler at Swallows Charter (THURS)
- 2A: #7 Hoehne at Rye (THURS)
- 3A: #8 Alamosa vs Pagosa Springs (FRI)
- 4A: #10 Palisade at Steamboat Springs (SAT)
CHERAW LOOKS FOR SECOND STRAIGHT TOP 10 UPSET
The Wolverines remain outside the Class 1A rankings but will seek a second straight upset of a top 10 opponent when they line up against Wiley on Thursday night. Wiley is ranked fourth in Class 1A. Cheraw is coming off a strong home win over now 9th ranked Sangre De Cristo (3-0) last Saturday. They took the first two sets 25-18 before finishing the sweep 25-20 in the third. For Wiley, Thursday’s match marks their season opener. They were 15-2 a year ago and lost in the state quarterfinals to Sangre De Cristo.
HAXTUN FACES TWO MORE RANKED OPPONENTS
The Fightin’ Bulldogs sit seventh in the Class 1A rankings this week but are 0-2 on the season with losses to #2 Sedgwick County (2A) and #3 Briggsdale (1A) last Saturday. There’s no break in scheduling this week as they start with local rival and 9th ranked Holyoke (2A) on Thursday before meeting #10 Stratton (1A) part of a three-team event in Eads on Saturday. Haxtun played well last Saturday earning three sets combined against the Cougars and Falcons. Allie Thompson earned 36 kills and Taylor Schram 28. Schram also paced the defensive effort with 32 diggs while K’Lyn Bornhoft and Megan Walker each finished with 30.
MEAD HAS CHALLENGING WEEK TO OPEN THE SEASON
After two consecutive state tournament appearances, the Mavericks have developed into a consistent program and begin week two ranked 3rd in Class 4A. Staying there could be a challenge as they open their 2021 schedule at home against perennial powerhouse Lewis Palmer on Tuesday before hosting another tradition rich program, Niwot, on Wednesday. Then it’s off to Eaton for a strong tournament (more details below) on Saturday.
The Mavericks are ranked 9th in Class 4A. The Mavericks return leading hitter Quincy Coyle (209 kills) and Morgan Munro (144) to the front line this year and again should push for a state tournament berth.
THOMPSON VALLEY SEEKS MORE ATTENTION
The Eagles used a 3-0 sweep of 5A Loveland to enter the rankings this week as they climbed to seventh in Class 4A. A further climb will happen if they can upset 3A power and defending state champion Eaton on Tuesday night. It’s the season opener for the Reds and they’re typically a top five club in Colorado regardless of classification. Thompson Valley finished with 36 kills against Loveland and they were evenly split between Rebecca Wiersema (9), Tatum Sharp (8), Emily Rollins (6) and Avery Gibbs (5). Ashlyn Tafoya also handed out 26 assists. Tafoya, Sharp and Gibbs are all freshman.
SOME NICE RIVALRY GAMES ON THE SLATE
The week two schedule brings us some attractive non-league matchups of teams in different classifications. Maybe leading that list is Sangre De Cristo as the 1A T-Birds spend the week battling many local rivals. They take on Monte Vista Thursday night and face both Del Norte and Sargent on Saturday. All three opponents are 2A clubs.
Other rivalry games on our list include:
- #2 Sterling (3A) at Fort Morgan (TUES)
- #7 Montezuma Cortez (3A) vs Dolores (TUES)
- #8 Fowler (2A) vs Crowley County
TREMENDOUS TOURNAMENT TO CLOSE THE WEEK
The first annual Northern Colorado Volleyball Slam is set for Saturday and the roster of teams is high level. Eaton is the host school for the new event but matches will be played at Platte Valley High School in Kersey due to the ongoing construction at Eaton high school and gym. 12 teams are in the field including two defending state champions in Eaton and Palmer Ridge. Both the Reds and Bears also head to the tournament ranked number one in their class this week. Four other ranked clubs are entered including Mead, Discovery Canyon, University and Platte Valley. Holy Family, Longmont, Bayfield and Fossil Ridge are four other programs that routinely push for state tournament bids.
Teams on hand and their respective rankings are below:
- #1 Eaton (3A)
- #1 Palmer Ridge (4A)
- #3 Mead (4A)
- #6 Discovery Canyon
- #6 University
- #9 Platte Valley
- Holy Family
- Brighton
- Longmont
- Bayfield
- Loveland
- Fossil Ridge
