New and Familiar Names Impacting CO HS Volleyball

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are in the heart of the season, teams are establishing their place, and players are making their statement as ones to watch this season.&nbsp; This is simply a description of athletes who are having a strong season and are playing for teams who have shown they will be ones to compete with come postseason.&nbsp; Are their more impact players out there?&nbsp; Absolutely.&nbsp; But here are the ones who are leading their team and playing a crucial part in an early rise for their squads.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erin McNair - Valor Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior - Committed to Princeton </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valor Christian is off to a blistering 12-0 start and are currently at the top of the Class 5A Rankings. McNair is a Princeton commit where she plays her club ball for Front Range Volleyball Club.&nbsp; She brings a really explosive style to the outside hitter position where she can take a long approach and pops off the floor where he has great vision to see the court and put the ball away.&nbsp; She will be continued to be relied upon for the Eagles as they will work their way to get to Denver come November.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Annika Sokol - Heritage</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sokol has been a huge part in the 8-1 start for Heritage where they just dropped a tough five set match to another ranked foe in Chapparral.&nbsp; As far as what I could find through my resources, Sokol is still uncommitted and would be a huge pick up at the next level.&nbsp; She can set at a high level, playing for Colorado Juniors, but for her high school squad she is a big time point scorer averaging 3.5 kills/set, with most of them coming from the right side.&nbsp; She has really strong court awareness and can pin point her swings to the deep corner, getting the other side out of position. &nbsp; Even if they aren't kills, they are most likely getting a free ball back in system.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735706' first='Tatum' last='Sharp'] - Thompson Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735701' first='Kayla' last='Kauffman'] - Thompson Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashlyn Tafoya - Thompson Valley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sophomore</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This trio of sophomores out of Thompson Valley have been huge in their key to a number one overall ranking and an undefeated record so far.&nbsp; Sharp is no secret to the volleyball scene as she was a major breakout star last year earning all area and all state honors.&nbsp; She is currently averaging 3.4 kills per set.&nbsp; Her counterparts in [player_tooltip player_id='735701' first='Kayla' last='Kauffman'] and Ashlyn Tafoya have been doing damage themselves where Kauffman is at 2.5 kills per set and leads the team in blocks.&nbsp; Tafoya is an extremely dynamic setter who can do a little bit of everything and keeps this high powered offense balanced while doing some scoring of their own.&nbsp; Sharp and Tafoya have been playing for Rocky Elite in the South Denver Metro Area.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rylee Martin - Eaton </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior - Committed to South Dakota State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin is the type of athlete where she just finds a way to win.&nbsp; She will head to the Summit League and compete for South Dakota State which is a program on the rise pulling in some top athletes from Colorado to Wisconsin.&nbsp; Martin has a presence in every rotation and can be offensive when needed at the net.&nbsp; Her favorite target is Emily Maske who is averaging nearly 2.5 kills per set.&nbsp; Martin is also averaging an ace per set, she is involved in so many scoring opportunities for this team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sydney Dunning - Lamar </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior - Committed to Cal State Bakersfield </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunning is electric and she is someone the other side has to be aware of no matter what rotation she is in, she is a threat to score in the front and backrow.&nbsp; Her second ranked Lamar team has some unfinished business where they will be looking for the top crown in November.&nbsp; Dunning is averaging nearly five kills per set and four digs.&nbsp; She is all over the court, she has range and it's tough to be out of system when you have someone like Sydney Dunning on your squad.&nbsp; She also scores just over a point from the service line as well per set. Look for more of Dunning to continue her blazing season as we near the halfway point of the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maylea Parrish - University </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katie Bauer - University </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>University is coming off a state title in Class 3A and are looking to climb back to the top.&nbsp; Two athletes with plenty of experience and are also putting up big numbers this season are attackers Maylea Parrish and Katie Bauer.&nbsp; Bauer is the leader at the net offensively and defensively where Parrish is a six rotation leader who can do it all from serve receive, passing, and attacking.&nbsp; With these veterans, there are also some younger athletes coming up that include freshman attacker Jordan Halley and sophomore Katilin Smith setter.&nbsp; Keep tabs on senior libero who is the commander of the defense and is averaging 3.5 digs per set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Luce - Meeker </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior - Committed to Stephen F. Austin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luce is putting up video game like stats for Meeker who is currently ranked third in Class 2A and their only loss coming to Sedgwick County who is currently the top ranked team in 2A.&nbsp; Luce has a really physical style of play where she hits a heavy ball.&nbsp; She can swing and score from any spot in the front row and is looked at a scoring option from the backrow as well.&nbsp; Aside from the offensive numbers at over seven kills per set, she is also averaging over five digs per set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jensen Renquist - Sedgwick County </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Renquist has been the catalyst behind the hot start for Sedgwick County where she has her hands involved in most points for this team.&nbsp; She is leading the team in kills, hitting percentage, digs, aces, and yes….assists. She is a triple double queen.&nbsp; Sedgwick Co High School is a stones throw away from Nebraska right on the border in Northeast Colorado.&nbsp; They will looking to keep the title at home after winning the 2021 title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735718' first='Kai' last='Kofoed'] - Chaparral </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sophomore</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chaparral is always in contention for big matches come postseason being a high powered large class program in Colorado.&nbsp; Ella Vogel is a big name in this program where recently committed to Florida and is one of the top liberos in the state.&nbsp; However, this squad has some young, up and coing players with one being [player_tooltip player_id='735718' first='Kai' last='Kofoed'].&nbsp; Like most high level outside, she has a big swing, but she has a knack for seeing whats open and knowing when to go for the big swing or hitting the high IQ shot.&nbsp; She has a very mature game for only being a sophomore.&nbsp; She has played her club ball for Elevation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735724' first='Alivia' last='Eikenberg'] - Rock Canyon </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sophomore</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another sophomore who is having a big time season is [player_tooltip player_id='735724' first='Alivia' last='Eikenberg'], being the top point scorer for Rock Canyon who is currently ranked  fourth in Colorado's large class.  Eikenberg is an explosive athlete where she can sky to score.  She's not afraid to go for the seam or give her a glimpse of the line and she is going to hammer away, a very exciting athlete.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1542503255133114369?s=20u0026t=1iEpL_WhYpTKaBr4M2nfDQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1542503255133114369?s=20&amp;t=1iEpL_WhYpTKaBr4M2nfDQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erika Sayer - Discovery Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sophomore </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sayer is another high impact athlete coming from the Class of 2025.&nbsp; Traditionally, I've seen a lot of sophomores have the biggest gains going from their freshman to sophomore year.&nbsp; They seem more sure of themselves and have a better idea of what it takes to be really successful at the next level.&nbsp; Sayer is doing that for Discovery Canyone who is 9-1 after dropping a match to Palmer Ridge, the number two ranked team in Class 4A.&nbsp; I saw Sayer play for Colorado Juniors at nationals this past summer and was so impressed with her explosiveness out of the middle.&nbsp; She is extremely dangerous off one foot and is so terminal.&nbsp; A fast twitch type of middle who can really cause a huge mismatch for the other side of the net.&nbsp; She is a 2025 to star among some of the top players in Colorado.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->