<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ZO8QZ_0vjW623r00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ZO8QZ_0vjW623r00" width="1600" height="1066" ><figcaption>(Dan Mohrmann/ColoradoPreps.com)</figcaption></figure>It’s been a bit since a girls volleyball team in Class 1A other than Merino climbed to the top of the mountain – five years, to be exact. So with the Rams (8-0 going into Tuesday night) doing what they do so far this season, the rest of the classification’s contenders are hoping to prove their mettle over the next month-plus.On Friday, two of the best go head-to-head when top-ranked Stratton (5-0) visits No. 2 Idalia (8-0). The Eagles, led by junior Sophie Isenbart, have yet to drop a set. The Wolves are paced by seniors Jaylyn Kechter (3.2 kills a set) and Addyson Juhnke (2.9).Another 1A team to be reckoned with is No. 9 Sargent (12-0, 4-0 in Southern Peaks play). The Farmers posted their biggest victory of the season Tuesday night, handing previously unbeaten Del Norte – ranked third in 2A – its first loss with a 28-26, 21-25, 25-20, 26-24 victory.With October just around the corner, the 2024 regular season has a little more than one month to go before postseason play begins.Here is a quick overview of the state’s five classifications going into the last week of September:Class 5AEven after dropping the first set of its matchup with Mountain Vista on Tuesday night, second-ranked Chaparral found a way to keep up its winning ways. The Wolverines took down the No. 5 Golden Eagles 22-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-16 to remain unbeaten in Continental League play. Since a loss to No. 1 Fossil Ridge on Sept. 4, Chaparral has won six in a row. … Valor Christian stayed undefeated, riding 34 kills from Kenzey McGatlin to a four-set victory over No. 9 Legend last Wednesday. Four players tallied at least 20 digs, led by McGatlin’s 24. … Arapahoe, which climbed into the top 10 before a loss to Grandview on Tuesday, has a big Centennial League matchup with first-place Cherokee Trail on Oct. 1.Game of the (last) week: Valor Christian def. Legend 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 26-24, 28-26)Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 10 Arapahoe at Cherokee Trail, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 1Class 4AAfter an 0-3 start to the season, Lewis-Palmer has reeled off seven consecutive victories, including a sweep of No. 8 Lutheran on Tuesday night. … Top-ranked Thompson Valley has another test this week, visiting No. 9 Timnath on Thursday. … Glenwood Springs, which rode a 48-assist performance from Emory Walter to a five-set marathon victory over Steamboat Springs last Thursday, has a big Western Slope test Oct. 1 with No. 5 Battle Mountain. … Montrose has bounced back from a loss Sept. 12 to current No. 5 Palisade with three consecutive victories to climb into the top 10.Game of the (last) week: Lewis-Palmer def. Lutheran 3-0 (28-26, 25-11, 25-21)Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 1 Thompson Valley at No. 9 Timnath, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 26Class 3AWhat a week for Eaton. In the span of six days, the No. 2 Reds defeated third-ranked Sterling in five sets, and then took down 4A No. 3 University in three sets on Tuesday night. Eaton (11-0, 5-0 in Patriot League) received a combined 49 kills from Annabelle Dejager and Madi Smith against Sterling. Evie Gavette had 35 digs and Trinity Salberg assisted on 38 points. … Top-ranked Platte Valley, the only other team currently unbeaten in Patriot League play, draws Sterling on Thursday and University on Oct. 1. … Village, winners of six in a row, moved into to the 3A top 10 at No. 9 overall. … No. 8 Gunnison takes on No. 10 Cedaredge on Oct. 1 in a big Western Slope matchup.Game of the (last) week: Eaton def. Sterling 3-2 (28-30, 25-15, 29-31, 25-22, 15-11)Game of the (upcoming) week: 4A No. 3 University at 3A No. 1 Platte Valley, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 1Class 2ASedgwick County dropped its first match of the 2024 season Sept. 17, falling 3-1 to Chase County (Neb.). The Cougars will try to bounce back against Wiggins on Thursday. … Speaking of Wiggins, the Tigers are coming off a four-set loss to new No. 1 Simla. Wiggins took the first set and was within two in the next two before Simla pulled away. Freshman Karsyn Kerr tallied 16 kills and Kennedy Kerr had 36 assists. … No. 8 Rangely (10-2) was swept by Meeker last Saturday. The Panthers have a tough week ahead, facing No. 9 Vail Christian this Saturday before battling Meeker again Oct. 1. … Lyons (7-1) jumped to No. 5 with victories over Dayspring Christian, Front Range Christian and Highland.Game of the (last) week: Simla def. Wiggins 3-1 (25-27, 26-24, 25-23, 25-18)Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 8 Rangely at No. 9 Vail Christian, 5 p.m., Sept. 27Class 1AKayl Klem’s 26 kills and 10 digs sparked Briggsdale to a four-set triumph over Hi-Plains last Saturday. Elixis Sullivan added 20 digs. … No. 8 Cheraw fell to 2A No. 7 Swink on Tuesday night.Game of the (last) week: Briggsdale def. Hi-Plains 3-1 (16-25, 25-16, 25-19, 29-27)Game of the (upcoming) week: No. 1 Stratton at No. 2 Idalia, 5 p.m., Sept. 27</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Top 1A girls volleyball teams for Friday night showdown

It’s been a bit since a girls volleyball team in Class 1A other than Merino climbed to the top of the mountain – five years, to be exact. So with the Rams (8-0 going into Tuesday night) doing what they do so far this season, the rest of the classification’s contenders are hoping to prove their mettle over the next month-plus.