There’s been plenty of recent discussion about parity in high school sports—and the lack of it—especially when it comes to football, where every fall the same handful of Class 5A teams are in title contention.
But the same cannot be said for the 5A volleyball landscape. This year, just like last, there are many teams that have the talent and moxie to make a state championship run. The playoffs begin the first weekend in November.
While it’s undeniable that Grandview has been the one notable superpower in 5A volleyball over the past decade—since 2003, the Wolves have won five titles to go along with five state runner-up showings—in the past couple seasons the championship has been completely up for grabs when the regional round starts.
That sort of level competitive playing field is good for the sport, good for the players and good for the fans. It provides a degree of unpredictability that’s lacking in the high school football playoffs.
Take Cherokee Trail’s title run last fall as the most recent evidence of the increasing parity in 5A volleyball. The Cougars won the Centennial League, but more importantly, they got red-hot at just the right time in order to get past Cherry Creek, Denver East and Fairview en route to the championship. In capturing the program’s first title, the Cougars proved that any talented team can win as long as it saves its best play for the playoffs.
Some area teams have already completed their regular season schedules and some have a few league matches and/or tournaments remaining. But regardless of what happens in the final stretch of October—and regardless of the array of conference titles still up for grabs—prep volleyball fans can expect another roller-coaster postseason.
Top-ranked Rock Canyon (16-1) has had the target on its back for much of this season, and for good reason. The Jaguars boast one of 5A’s most powerful terminators in junior hitter Keeley Davis, as well as the seasoned likes of senior hitter Harley Freeseman, senior middle blocker Lacey Zadra and senior setter Skylar Lane. They are certainly the favorite heading into regionals, but coach Angela Nylund-Hanson’s crew knows rankings and hype meaning nothing come playoff time.
In addition to Rock Canyon, an array of other Continental League teams should also be considered dangerous. No. 2 Arapahoe (16-3) has a one-two offensive punch thanks to seniors Killy Winz and Jayden Liberty; No. 3 Mountain Vista (14-2) is led by senior Alyssa Oswald and is coming off consecutive quality wins over Chaparral and Highlands Ranch; and No. 4 Highlands Ranch (13-4) is catalyzed by 5A’s leading hitter in senior Melissa Evans (325 kills) and is the only team to defeat Rock Canyon this year.
Also keep an eye on No. 5 Denver East (14-3) out of the Denver Prep League, as the Angels are ranked first in the latest RPI and have a pair of reliable senior leaders in outside hitter Chase Jackson and middle hitter Maya Patterson. And in the Front Range League, star senior setter Audrey Cheng and No. 6 Fairview (14-4) is hungry to get back to the state tournament after a runner-up finish in 2015, while No. 7 Fossil Ridge (16-2) is ranked second in the RPI thanks to the play of two standout sophomores – Catie Semadeni and Riley Zuhn.
Other title contenders include No. 8 Chatfield (15-2), a team that is used to the pressure of the playoffs and is led by senior outside hitter Haley Fuller and senior rightside hitter Sierra Bartley, as well as a pair of tough Centennial League teams in No. 9 Cherry Creek (15-4) and No. 10 Eaglecrest (15-7). The Bruins boast one of the 5A’s best setters in senior Daisy Schultz, while the Raptors look to senior outside hitter Rachael Perrine to guide them back to the state tournament after missing the playoffs in 2015.
Any of these players can lead their team to a championship. It’s why it’ll behoove you to get off your couch on Saturday, Nov. 5, and head out to a rowdy regional gym near you.
