Stratton/Liberty and Otis appear headed to 1A postseason

The Stratton/Liberty volleyball team is heading toward the Class 1A postseason.
The Knighted Eagles entered the final week of the shortened Season C sitting at 11-0 overall. They hosted Hi-Plains this past Tuesday and close out the regular season with two matches later this week. They are fourth-ranked in Class 1A Top 15 (CHSAANow.com polls) and most importantly are No. 5 in the 1A Rating Percentage Index. The top 24 teams advance to regional next week.

The Knighted Eagles kept the good times rolling last week with a 25-6, 25-15, 25-14 home win over 2A Burlington, last Thursday. Kennedy Frank recorded 11 kills, Lucero Ontiveros six, McKenna Notter five, Hannah Rigirozzi three, and Mattie Crouse two. Crouse had 14 setting assists, Lauren Thompson four and Rigirozzi two. Frank was 18-18 serving with four aces, Emma Bohnen 16-17 with six aces, Crouse 13-13, Ontiveros 11-12 with one ace, Crystal Bouchier 11-11, and Madison Tagtmeyer 4-5.
Stratton/Liberty played at Deer Trail last Friday, cruising to a 25-8, 25-6, 25-7 win over the Eagles. Frank and Rigirozzi each had 10 kills, Ontiveros six, Kandess Mills four, Crouse three, Notter two, and Thompson and Eden Sears one each. Crouse led in assists with 26. Bohnen was 27-27 serving with two aces, Bouchier 15-15 with two aces, Crouse 11-11 with one ace, Frank 9-9 with three aces, Ontiveros 4-4, Sears 3-3 with one ace, and Tagtmeyer and Callie Camp both 1-1.

OTIS
Otis High School’s volleyball team is on the cusp of earning another postseason bid.
The long-time Class 1A power is entering the final week of the shortened Season C with a 7-3 overall record, and in position to claim a spot in the 24-team regional field. The Bulldogs were No. 21 in the 1A Rating Percentage Index, and ranked No. 15 in the Top 15 (CHSAANow.com polls). They hosted winless Bethune this past Tuesday, were at Idalia on Wednesday, and then close out the regular season with a match at Kit Carson today, April 22, and at home against Hi-Plains on Friday.

Ali Hornung sets up an Otis teammate. (Dave Gustafson)

The Bulldogs had only one match last week, rolling past Arickaree/Woodlin on April 13, 25-6, 25-9, 25-11. Becca Bleak had 17 kills, Rowan Tribelhorn 13, Jayce Perry two and Azariah Erickson two. Ali Hornung had 33 setting assists. Bleak was 16-17 serving with five aces, Erickson 16-16 with four aces, Anthoneya Schaffert 15-17 with four aces, Tribelhorn 10-10 with one ace, Hailey Stivers 5-5 and Hornung 5-6.

LONE STAR
Lone Star volleyball team’s Season C likely is heading toward a conclusion this week.
The Longhorns entered the final week of the regular season 3-8 overall, and well out of the running for a berth in the 24-team regional field. They played at Arickaree/Woodlin this past Tuesday, have a match Friday against Class 2A Wray and close out the regular season Saturday at home against Flatirons Academy.

Jayna Lockard of Lone Star. (Dave Gustafson)
Lone Star hosted Weldon Valley last Thursday, losing in five sets. The Longhorns lost 9-25 and 16-25, then picked up the intensity, winning the next two sets 25-20, and pushed Weldon Valley to extra points in the fifth, losing 14-16. Statistics were not available.

ARICKAREE/WOODLIN
The Arickaree/Woodlin volleyball team will be wrapping up the shortened Season C this week.
The Indian Mustangs host Class 2A Wray today, April 22, then bring it to a close Saturday at Cheyenne Wells. They entered this past Tuesday’s home match against Lone Star with a 1-9 record.
They lost in straight sets at Akron, last Thursday, 10-25, 6-25, 12-25. Statistics were not available.
Arickaree/Woodlin played at 1A top-ranked Fleming on Saturday, losing 5-25, 15-25, 8-25. Statistics were not available.