The holiday weekend delayed volleyball rankings back to Tuesday for this week but they’ve been released and we list the top five in each classification below.  Teams new to the rankings this week are listed in bold and we add the next five teams in the voting.  Rankings are based on vote totals from coaches across Colorado.

OUR THOUGHTS

We’re somewhat surprised to see Fleming still in the top spot for Class 1A.  The Wildcats are a serious state championship contender but were swept on the road at Briggsdale last Thursday.  We thought that would cause Fleming to drop into the third spot behind Merino and Falcons.  Belleview Christian is also a surprise entry into the 1A poll this week; the Bruins are 11-0 but the conference has not had a ton of post-season success.

The Class 2A poll lays out nicely and reflects some consistency from last week.  Olathe is the lone newcomer and it’s well deserved as the Pirates have opened with seven wins and seem to be a threat for the Western Slope championship.  They have a tough test with Vail Christian on Friday and future important tests with the likes of Meeker and Soroco.

Lamar is the new number one team in Class 3A.  The Savages are very good and should get some consideration for the top spot each week.  Thus far, they haven’t played the same level of competition as the likes of Eaton, University and Lutheran.  Three newcomers are in the rankings this week including Pagosa Springs and Montezuma Cortez.  Both are inside the IML and they collide on Saturday.  Cortez also battles an underrated Bayfield club on Tuesday so its an important early week there.

In Class 4A, Frederick probably should be ranked ahead of Mead since they downed the Mavericks in five sets last week.  The loss was the third straight for Mead and dropped them below five hundred so we thought they may drop a bit this week.

In Class 5A, Highlands Ranch dropped two matches last week but we’re not surprised to see them move up two positions.  They had top ranked Grandview on the ropes in the finals of the Chaparral Showcase but let a 2-0 lead slip away in a five set thriller.  Those two teams meet again this week.

 

CLASS 1A

  1. Fleming
  2. Merino
  3. Briggsdale
  4. Wiley
  5. Genoa Hugo
  6. Belleview Christian
  7. Haxtun
  8. Simla
  9. Kit Carson
  10. Dove Creek

Next 5:  McClave, North Park, Stratton, Flagler, Cheraw

 

CLASS 2A

  1. Wiggins
  2. Sedgwick County
  3. Meeker
  4. Dayspring Christian
  5. Fowler
  6. Denver Christian
  7. Hoehne
  8. Yuma
  9. Holyoke
  10. Olathe

Next 5:  Soroco, Sanford, Sargent, Limon, Addenbrooke Academy

 

CLASS 3A

  1. Lamar
  2. Eaton
  3. University
  4. Lutheran
  5. DSST-Montview
  6. Resurrection Christian
  7. Sterling
  8. Liberty Common
  9. Pagosa Springs
  10. Montezuma Cortez

Next 5:  Kent Denver, Alamosa, James Irwin, Colorado Academy, Centauri

 

CLASS 4A

  1. Palmer Ridge
  2. Cheyenne Mountain
  3. Thompson Valley
  4. Windsor
  5. Niwot
  6. Mead
  7. Frederick
  8. Montrose
  9. Thomas Jefferson
  10. Holy Family

Next 5:  Classical Academy, Erie, Lewis Palmer, Mullen, Eagle Valley

 

CLASS 5A

  1. Grandview
  2. Cherry Creek
  3. Chaparral
  4. Ralston Valley
  5. Mountain Vista
  6. Rampart
  7. Highlands Ranch
  8. Valor Christian
  9. Legend
  10. Broomfield

Next 5:  Douglas County, Rock Canyon, Pine Creek, Regis, Cherokee Trail