With the prep sports calendar moved up a week this year, volleyball teams can get an early start to the 2018 season as games can open on Thursday.  Only a few teams statewide are taking advantage of the earlier dates as most will wait until next week to get their schedule up and running.
One exception is Hoehne.  The Farmers are ranked 10th in Class 2A to begin the season and they face a good early schedule with two road games against quality opponents.  They first tangle with Santa Fe league rival #6 Swink on Thursday and then visit Southern Peaks favorite Del Norte on Saturday.
Both Hoehne and Swink were state tournament qualifiers a year ago and both could challenge, along with Fowler and newcomer Holly, for the Santa Fe championship.  That makes their battle on Thursday very important as it’s the first of two league encounters.
Swink returns much more experience from a year ago including their top players from almost every category.  Returning hitters include Skyler Jones (217 kills), Brianna Denton (192), Brooklyn Mueller (189) and Kyla O’Neal (186).  Tierra Holland is also back after leading the Lions with 444 assists.
Hoehne, on the other hand, must replace the hitting tandem of Shaelyn Walton and Brittanie Hill who combined for over 15-hundred career kills.  Averie Navarette is the top returning hitter (117 kills) and Tiffany Montoya returns after leading the Farmers with 426 assists a year ago.
Del Norte is unranked to start the season but they return virtually the entire roster from last year’s club.  Included on that list are hitters Lacie Jones (231 kills), Kiela Madrid (163) and Myka Glover (142).  Brianna Gallegos will serve as the main setter after picking up 396 assists a year ago.
#9 Lamar (3A) is another ranked team in action this weekend as they host Florence on Saturday.  The Savages also get in a nice road trip to Buena Vista on the 25th where they will battle the host Demons along with five-time defending state champion Eaton and #3 University.
Looking to next week and some attractive matchups include.

  • 5A:  #2 Chaparral vs #4 Cherokee Trail (Wednesday)
  • 4A:  #6 D’Evelyn vs #10 Thomas Jefferson (Friday)

 
Colorado Preps will provide previews of each classification next week and then a weekly report on each division throughout the season.