Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Alerts | Electronic edition | Advertise | Subscribe to the paper | Today's Extras

Breaking News:

Subscribe

Class 3A volleyball league outlooks

By Alan Pearce, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 27, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.

Text size  

Frontier

Favorite: Middle Park

Contender: Platte Canyon

Others to watch: The Academy, Arrupe Jesuit, Bennett, Clear Creek, Denver Science and Technology, Jefferson, Jefferson Academy, Lake County, Pinnacle, Sheridan

Key players: Stephanie Becker, The Academy, 5-11 Sr.; Amanda Bernal, The Academy, 5-4, Sr.; Anna Conrad, Middle Park, 5-10, Sr.; Cheyenne Hickox, Middle Park, 5-11, So.; Elsa Krieg, Middle Park, 6-2, So.; Chelsea Lang, Middle Park, 5-7, Sr.; Meghan Muzek, The Academy, 5-7, Sr.; Quincey Pederson, Middle Park, 5-7, So.; Sara Salazar, The Academy, 5-7, So.; Shannan Stensrad, Middle Park, 5-9, Jr.; Jessica Waldron, Middle Park, 5-3, Jr.

Outlook: Middle Park moves over from one of the best leagues in the state, the Metro, and should win the Frontier. Platte Canyon, another Metro refugee, and Jefferson Academy, a former 2A school, are other newcomers. Platte Canyon has a number of good players back, including setter Emily Hirschfeld, middle blocker Tori Horstmann and outside hitter Haily Rupp. The Academy has a new coach after Pam Wildman left just before the season started. The Academy athletic director David Zukin has taken over that coaching job.

Intermountain

Favorite: Bayfield

Contenders: Centauri, Monte Vista, Pagosa Springs

Key players: Brandi Crowther, Centauri, 5-6, So.; Miesha Gibson, Monte Vista, 5-6, Sr.; Allison Hart, Pagosa Springs, 5-10, Sr.; Channing Jackson, Centauri, 5-11, Sr.; Laury Keim, Monte Vista, 5-11, Jr.; Jenny Low, Pagosa Springs, 5-10, Sr.; Shelly Malouff, Monte Vista, 5-8, Jr.; Kala Matzdorf, Pagosa Springs, 5-10, Jr.; Leslie McCarroll, Centauri, 5-7, Sr.; Chelsea Medina, Monte Vista, 5-8, Jr.; Shelby Moeller, Centauri, 5-6, Jr.; Katerina Pawloski, Centauri, 5-6, Jr.; Trinidy Perdilla, Centauri, 5-4, So.; Casie Ratzlaff, Monte Vista, 6-0, Sr.; Nikola Sandoval, Centauri, 5-11, Sr.; Liz Schaeffer, Monte Vista, 5-10, Jr.; Shelby Stretton, Pagosa Springs, 5-7, Sr.; Katy Townsend, Monte Vista, 5-5, Jr.

Outlook: Bayfield is a team on the way up, under coach Kelley Rifilato, whose daughter Gabriella is a standout setter. Pagosa Springs, which was the most dominant team in the IML, again has some individual talent and significant athletes, but are in for another battle. Centauri should reap the benefits of a good senior and junior group, especially outside hitter Channing Jackson. New Monte Vista coach Amber Ullery, who helped Sangre de Cristo become a state power, has a nice foundation with junior setter Shelly Malouff. The IML gets two district qualifiers from a four-team league, so this will be a tough fight.

Metro

Favorite: Faith Christian

Contenders: Holy Family, Colorado Academy

Others to watch: Denver Christian, Denver Lutheran, Kent Denver, Machebeuf, Manual, Peak to Peak, St. Mary’s Academy

Key players: Mady Bigelow, Colorado Academy, 5-9, Jr.; Maria Bruin, Machebeuf, 5-11, Fr.; Allison Cloud, Machebeuf, 5-11, Sr.; Kellie Dickerson, Machebeuf, 6-0, Sr.; Erin Fisher, Colorado Academy, 5-6, Sr.; Hanna Gibeau, Faith Christian, 5-11, Jr.; Janel Gibeau, Faith Christian, 5-10, Jr.; Vanessa Hacker, Machebeuf, 5-6, Jr.; Amanda Hernandez, Machebeuf, 5-7, Sr.; Breann McBeth, Faith Christian, 5-8, Sr.; Emily Mills, Colorado Academy, 5-11, Sr.; Kati Niparko, Colorado Academy, 5-6, Sr.; Auberella Schlanger, Machebeuf, 5-6, Sr.; Maggie Sherrill, Colorado Academy, 5-10, Fr.; Emily Weingartner, Faith Christian, 5-4, Jr.

Outlook: Faith Christian might be one of the teams that could stop Colorado Springs Christian’s streak of three state titles. Eagles coach C.L. Hubbard has three starters back and they are worth watching. Holy Family had a good season last year, but won it all in basketball, not volleyball.

Northern Front Range

Favorite: Brighton Collegiate

Outlook: Brighton Collegiate is the only 3A representative from the Northern Front Range League and will qualify for the playoffs outright if it wins 25 percent of its matches. If it does not qualify under than criteria, then it still could get in by having a better winning percentage than teams from the Intermountain, Tri-Peaks and Western Slope leagues.

Patriot

Favorite: Eaton

Contenders: Platte Valley, Valley

Others to watch: Brush, Erie, Estes Park, Frederick, Highland, Lyons, Strasburg, University, Weld Central, Yuma

Key players: Casey Ball, Eaton, 5-9, So.; Sierra Bennett, Valley, 5-9, Jr.; Estes Carlson, Eaton, 5-6, Jr.; Chelsea Cowan, Eaton, 6-0, Sr.; Savannah Garcia, Valley, 5-3, Jr.; Amber Gustafson, Weld Central, 6-0, Sr.; Krystin Helzer, Weld Central, 5-7, Sr.; Gracie Howe, Eaton, 5-8, Jr.; Kirsten Jacobson, Yuma, 5-10, Jr.; Sherry Jesse, Yuma, 5-7, Sr.; Sarah Kawata, Valley, 5-10, Jr.; Taylor Laramore, Eaton, 5-10, Sr.; Emily Lubbers, Yuma, 5-4, Sr.; Kelsie Neill, Yuma, 5-4, Jr.; Mindy Quimby, Weld Central, 5-10, Sr.; Melissa Marshall, Weld Central, 6-1, Sr.; Lauren Saxton, Yuma 5-8, Jr.; Liliana Varela, Yuma, 5-1, Sr.; Sydney Wilson, Eaton, 5-5, Jr.

Outlook: Eaton looks ready to regain the top spot in a Patriot League that’s weaker than normal. Valley’s depleted roster has been detailed, but the Vikings still have that great defense and a couple of standout players. Yuma also has good defense but has a roster lacking in height, just like Valley. But coach Kim Zulauf has an experienced squad and high hopes. Weld Central gets a new coach in Dawna Gudka, who replaces Tia Self.

Tri-Peaks

Favorite: Colorado Springs Christian

Contender: The Classical Academy

Others to watch: Buena Vista, Dolores Huerta, Ellicott, Florence, James Irwin, La Junta, Lamar, Manitou Springs, Peyton, Rye, St. Mary’s, Salida, Trinidad

Key players: Lauren Alejo, The Classical Academy, 5-5, Jr.; Meagan Brady, The Classical Academy, 5-6, So.; Morgan Broekhuis, Colorado Springs Christian, 6-5, Jr.; Hannah Crider, The Classical Academy, 5-9, Sr.; Kelsey Crumb, Manitou Springs, 5-9, Sr.; Danielle Fisher, James Irwin, 5-9, Sr.; Kayla Graves, James Irwin, 5-5, Sr.; Kaitlyn Hayes, James Irwin, 5-9, Sr.; Devin Keating, Manitou Springs, 5-8, So.; Wendy Lade, The Classical Academy, 5-5, Sr.; Ale McGee, Manitou Springs, 5-7, Sr.; Hannah Ramsey, James Irwin, 5-6, Sr.; Katie Reininger, The Classical Academy, 6-0, Fr.; Kerri Taylor, The Classical Academy, 6-1, Sr.; Lindsay Thayer, The Classical Academy, 5-7, Sr.; Calla Urban, Manitou Springs, 5-10, So.; Breanne VandeGriend, Colorado Springs Christian, 6-1, Jr.; Lisa Viloria, James Irwin, 5-1, Sr.; Hannah Walker, Colorado Springs Christian, 5-6, Jr.; Taylor Wilkinson, Manitou Springs, 5-7, Sr.

Outlook: Colorado Springs Christian and The Classical Academy faced off in the Class 3A state championship match and could be headed for a repeat. The rest of the league, including Manitou Springs, appears to be in a down cycle.

Western Slope

Favorite: Coal Ridge

Contender: Gunnison

Others to watch: Aspen, Basalt, Cedaredge, Grand Valley, Hotchkiss, Olathe, Roaring Fork

Key players: Emera Danof, Gunnison, 5-4, So.; Jordan Grosse, Gunnison, 5-2, Jr.; Sierra Grove, Coal Ridge, 5-9, Sr.; Lindsay Hart, Gunnison, 5-8, Sr.; Brittney Long, Gunnison, 5-10, Jr.; Chloe Nelson, Coal Ridge, 5-10, Sr.; Kelly Romero, Coal Ridge, 5-10, Sr.; Kaitie Vader, Gunnison, 5-4, Sr.

Outlook: Basalt has been the standout WSL team in recent years, but graduation has taken a large toll on the Longhorns. Coal Ridge, a relatively new school, has built up its program under coach Denise Greene, and has Chloe Nelson, one of the top returning players in the league. Aspen, Gunnison, Olathe and Roaring Fork could be up to the challenge of taking down Coal Ridge.

Post your comment

Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.




(Forgotten your password?)




News Tip

Know about something we should be reporting? Tell us about it.

Sponsored links



Reprints