Get To Know The Top Seeds of the CHSAA State Tournament
Next stop – Denver. Colorado High School volleyball teams are heading to the Denver Coliseum where there are 12 teams in five classes who will be battling for a title. I will be reporting live from Denver with Twitter updates…
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Continue ReadingNext stop – Denver. Colorado High School volleyball teams are heading to the Denver Coliseum where there are 12 teams in five classes who will be battling for a title. I will be reporting live from Denver with Twitter updates at @PrepDigChris and will be posting pictures and articles on our Prep Dig National Facebook Page and our Prep Dig National Site. This is building the foundation for what will be Prep Dig Colorado – our 22nd state to the Prep Dig Network.
This is a start of a series of articles that will take a look at the state tournament teams over the course of the week and beyond. Let’s take a look at the top seeds heading to Denver.
Class 5A
Valor Christian
Highlands Ranch, CO
25-0
In 2021, Valor Christian suffered two five set losses in the state tournament, so close yet so far. A matter of points from the next level. Those close losses have fueled the Eagles where they have only dropped three sets all season. Princeton commit Erin McNair is flat out electric, she averages just over three kills per set. Her ability to score in multiple ways from all over the court is next level. Sasha Cohen is one of the top middle blockers in the state where she brings a fast and physical style to the net, she had a big season for Front Range Volleyball club. She is committed to Central Florida, who has built a pipeline to Colorado kids. The one who paces the offense is sophomore Chloe Elarton who averages over nine assists per set.
Class 4A
Palmer Ridge
Monument, CO
23-2
Palmer Ridge is back at the state tournament as the top seed in Class 4A. This squad was the top seed in 2021 and lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals to Cheyenne Mountain with the fifth set going 20-18. The Bears have two losses on the year that have come to top Class 5A team in Valor Christian. Teams facing Palmer Ridge are going to receive a heavy dose of swings from Corrie Anderson. The Dayton commit is averaging nearly five kills per set and hitting a touch under .400. Anderson isn’t the only weapon for Palmer Ridge as they have four athletes who have over 100 kills on the season with none of them being seniors. Emily Klahn is a top libero for this team and a D1 prospect along with senior leader, Kyra Kisting who is one of the top assist leaders in the state.
Class 3A
Lamar
Lamar, CO
25-0
Lamar has been the team to beat all season. They did receive a scare from Woodland Park and Alamosa, the five seed, took a set off them earlier this season. Sydney Dunning has been putting up video game-like numbers where she is averaging nearly seven kills per set. The Cal State-Bakersfield commit is automatic in system and is always an outlet, she can attack out of the backrow and is really good out of system where she has great hand to ball contact. Sophomore Brooklyn Robbins is having a breakout year where she is averaging nearly four kills per set. On the other side of the bracket is number two seed Eaton who has losses to top Class 4A and 5A squads that include Valor Christian and Palmer Ridge. University High is back as well, looking to defend their state title from 2021.
Class 2A
Wiggins
Wiggins, CO
22-3
Wiggins comes to the state tournament with a 22-3 record and champions of the 2A/1A Lower Platte Conference. Two of their losses are to Class 3A state tournament teams in Lamar and Alamosa. They are coming back after a 2021 semifinal appearance. Defending state champions, Sedgwick County is on the other side of the bracket as the two seed. The Tigers have a balanced attack, but are led by Tyleigh Feseke and Peyton Allart. Feseke is averaging nearly four kills per set while Allart has just over 2.5 kills per set. At libero is Avery Burdette who is one of the top liberos in Colorado averaging nearly seven digs per set. Kennedy Kerr is another upstart sophomore who will be in the tournament where she quarterbacks this offense with nearly 700 assists and an ace per set as well.
Class 1A
Merino
Merino, CO
22-3
Merino comes into the state tournament battle tested. Their three losses have come to top teams in higher divisions with two losses against Wiggins (#1 in 2A) and Lamar (#1 in 3A). Makenna Sutter will be the key player for opponents to stop where she is averaging 5.5 kills per set and leads the team in digs as well. We’ll keep it in the Sutter name where sophomore Brooklyn Sutter runs the offense where she has over 800 assists for the Rams. This team has plenty of youth where Jadelynn Powell, Jaylyn Powell, and Kya Piel each have over 100 kills and are only freshmen.