With many teams playing between four and seven matches in the final week, it’s a very busy closing stretch of the volleyball season. Clubs continue to lock up league titles and others continue to make a push for at-large consideration for the regional tournament next week. Numerous matches on the schedule tonight will impact both areas.
In Class 1A, a huge match between #1 Fleming and #5 Merino. Some see it as a potential state semifinal or championship match next month and there’s a lot riding for both teams on where they’re placed in the regional tournament. Fleming could secure the top overall seed with a win while Merino could lay a case for that honor if they knock off the defending state champions. Also tonight, Simla can clinch the Black Forest title and Stratton/Liberty looks to stay unbeaten overall with a home win over Hi Plains.
On the 2A front, #2 Denver Christian returns to the court one night after beating Dayspring Christian in four sets. The win basically clinched the Mile High crown for the Thunder and now the defending champs must avoid a letdown to Front Range Christian.
On the 3A front, Eaton can clinch the Patriot crown with a home win over Strasburg. #9 Resurrection Christian trails the Reds by two games and plays them tomorrow night. That game is meaningless to the title picture if Eaton wins or the Cougars lose at Brush. #3 Sterling keeps in line for a runner-up finish if they get by Frontier Academy. #8 University looks to avoid a letdown after beating #4 Lutheran on Monday. Liberty Common opened the season 7-0 but has lost four straight matches. A win by #3 Lamar keeps them alone atop the Tri Peaks conference race.
In Class 4A, the best pairing seems to be #2 Palmer Ridge at Air Academy. It’s another tough match inside a very deep Pikes Peak conference. Palmer Ridge lost to Cheyenne Mountain last week while the Kadets gave the Indians their second loss of the season three nights later.
In Class 5A, first place in the Jeffco is on the line between #6 Columbine and #7 Ralston Valley. Both are unbeaten in conference play. The Mustangs clinch the championship with a win while Columbine must still get by third place Chatfield (one loss) on Friday as well. #2 Cherokee Trail and #4 Cherry Creek enter tonight’s matches sharing the top spot in the Centennial.
Below is the top 10 schedule for Tuesday and below those games is another list of important contests across the state.
Photo by OT Sportscheck.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #5 Merino beat #1 Fleming 3-0
FINAL: #2 Simla beat Colorado D&B 3-0
FINAL: #3 Wiley beat Eads 3-0
FINAL: #4 Stratton/Liberty beat Hi Plains 3-0
FINAL: #6 Springfield beat South Baca 3-0
#9 Kit Carson vs Genoa Hugo
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #2 Denver Christian beat Front Range Christian 3-0
FINAL: #3 Meeker beat North Park 3-0
FINAL: #10 Alamosa beat #5 Fowler 3-2 (Game 5: 16-14)
FINAL: #6 Vail Christian beat Hayden 3-0
FINAL: #8 Limon beat Peyton 3-0
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #1 Eaton vs Strasburg
FINAL: #2 Sterling beat Frontier Academy 3-0
FINAL: #3 Lamar beat Banning Lewis 3-0
FINAL: #8 University beat Liberty Common 3-1
FINAL: #9 Resurrection Christian beat Brush 3-0
CLASS 4A
FINAL: Air Academy beat #2 Palmer Ridge 3-2
FINAL: #3 Windsor beat Thompson Valley 3-1
FINAL: #4 Coronado beat Palmer 3-0
FINAL: #7 Discovery Canyon beat Vista Ridge 3-0
FINAL: #8 Eagle Valley beat Summit 3-0
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #2 Cherokee Trail beat Mullen 3-0
FINAL: #3 Rampart beat Lewis Palmer 3-0
FINAL: #4 Cherry Creek beat Grandview 3-2
FINAL: #5 Chaparral beat Highlands Ranch 2-0
FINAL: #7 Ralston Valley beat #6 Columbine 3-1
FINAL: #9 Legend beat Ponderosa 2-0
FINAL: #9 Legend beat ThunderRidge 2-0
OUTSIDE THE RANKINGS
FINAL: Cotopaxi beat La Veta 3-1
FINAL: Evangelical Christian beat Kiowa 3-0
FINAL: Dolores beat Ignacio 3-2
FINAL: Dayspring Christian beat Union Colony 3-1
FINAL: Manitou Springs beat James Irwin 3-0
FINAL: Vanguard beat La Junta 3-1
FINAL: Skyview beat Weld Central 3-0
FINAL: Fruita Monument beat Montrose 3-1
FINAL: Classical Academy beat Falcon 3-0
FINAL: Pueblo West beat Pueblo South 3-0
FINAL: Brighton beat Vista Peak 3-2
NOTES: Quite an important night for teams outside the rankings. We’ll start at the bottom of the list and work up from there as Brighton and Vista Peak collide for the East Metro championship. Both are unbeaten in league play so the winner moves very close to the title and a playoff berth. Pueblo West can clinch the South Central crown by beating Pueblo South for a second time this year. West won the first matchup in three sets. Classical Academy is the CS Metro North champion with a win over Falcon. The two are separated by one game in the league standings thanks the Titans 3-0 win over Falcon in the first meeting. Durango clinched the Southwestern championship by beating Grand Junction Central on Monday. That means tonight’s winner of Fruita Monument and Montrose will end up second. Montrose beat the Wildcats 3-1 on Saturday as they meet for the second time in four days. Skyview basically clinches the Colorado crown with a win over Weld Central. The Wolverines are unbeaten in league play with Weld Central and Eagle Ridge Academy tied for second but just one game back. Lamar is expected to beat Banning Lewis tonight so Vanguard needs a win at La Junta to stay one game back in the standings. Manitou Springs also needs a win over James Irwin to stay alone in third. Dayspring Christian is coming off a tough 3-1 loss to Denver Christian last night. It dropped them two games back of the Thunder in the Mile High standings and now the Eagles face a quick turnaround with another important match against Union Colony Prep. Both have two league losses and share second place with Dawson. 1A Dove Creek has clinched the San Juan crown but Dolores sits in second and must beat Ignacio to stay there. An Ignacio win creates a three-way tie with the Bears and Telluride in second. Dolores is also 21st in RPI and could use a win to boost their playoff chances. Simla is close to wrapping up the 1A Black Forest chase but the outcome between Kiowa and Evangelical Christian will help decide spots two through four. ECA and Elbert have one league loss with Kiowa in fourth at 5-2. ECA is 18th and Kiowa 27th in 1A RPI. La Veta (Fishers Peak) and Cotopaxi (West Central) are already in the 1A playoffs as league champions. They collide tonight with the outcome impacting regional pairings. The Pirates are 17th in RPI and Redskins 34th.
