Centennial League

Favorite: Eaglecrest

Contenders: Boulder, Cherry Creek, Fairview, Grandview, Overland, Smoky Hill

Outlook: Eaglecrest certainly has some holes to fill at libero, right side hitter and middle blocker, but the Raptors are the defending state champions and return excellent talent in Courtney Karst, Jordan Kissman and Darcy Schwartzman. Cherry Creek has front row talent to match anybody, so the Bruins defense will determine their fate. Grandview has Lauren Van Orden, a setter/hitter who is a match for anybody. Smoky Hill, with Amanda Arterburn, also could figure in the league race.

Key players: OH Amanda Arterburn, Smoky Hill, Sr.; OH Carrie Baird, Cherry Creek, Sr.; OH/MB Erica Denney, Grandview, So.; S/OH Gabi Dewberry, Cherry Creek, Jr.; MB Courtney Karst, Eaglecrest, Sr.; S/OH Jordan Kissman, Eaglecrest, Sr.; MB Kelly Miller, Smoky Hill, Jr.; L McCall Paynter, Eaglecrest, Jr.; S Theresa Read, Grandview, Jr.; S Devon Rice, Smoky Hill, Jr.; S/OH Darcy Schwartzman, Sr.; OH Tessa Trimble, Cherry Creek, Sr.; S/RS Lauren Van Orden, Grandview, Sr.

Colorado Springs Metro League

Favorite: Lewis-Palmer

Contenders: Air Academy, Coronado, Doherty, Mitchell, Palmer, Pine Creek, Rampart, Sand Creek, Wasson

Outlook: It is kind of a down year down south, as Lewis-Palmer is the only CSML team ranked in the top 10. Still, even Lewis-Palmer must improve its defense and performance in big matches to make a run at the truly elite teams in the state. Doherty has a setter in Vanessa Gemignani who is capable of lifting the Spartans to another state tournament berth. Pine Creek, with setter Cindy Bathelt and veteran outside hitters, might possibly make it there as well.

Key players: S Cindy Bathelt, Pine Creek, Sr.; MB Kassen Boesel, Doherty, Sr.; OH Britny Doole, Sand Creek, Jr.; MB Ariana Filho, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; OH Anne Fredell, Pine Creek, Sr.; S Vanessa Gemignani, Doherty, Jr.; OH Jenny Kagarise, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; OH Kelsi Klikus, Pine Creek, Jr.; MB Nikki Kinzer, Rampart, Jr.; S Natalie Laband, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; OH Erika Lightsey, Air Academy, Sr.; OH Sarah Marietta, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; OH Indy Miller, Doherty, Sr.; S A.J. Palmer, Rampart, Sr.; L Shelbi Pitcher, Lewis-Palmer, Jr.; MB Natalie Reed, Sand Creek, Jr.; MB Katie Schimpf, Doherty, Jr.; S DeVonda Smith, Sand Creek, Sr.; OH Steph Todd, Air Academy, Sr.; OH Lauren Yoder, Rampart, Jr.

Continental League

Favorite: Mountain Vista

Contenders: Arapahoe, Chaparral, Douglas County, Gateway, Heritage, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Ponderosa, Rangeview, ThunderRidge

Outlook: Mountain Vista was knocked out of the playoffs last season, losing a special one-game playoff with Pine Creek after a scoring mishap. The Golden Eagles still have the talent to make the final eight. Chaparral also is likely to continue to be near the top, and the Wolverines won the CSU camp this summer. Heritage, Arapahoe and Highlands Ranch will be competitive in one of the strongest leagues in the state.

Key players: L Mandy Bauer, Mountain Vista, Sr.; RS Lauren Bloch, Arapahoe, Jr.; S Hilary Cavanaugh, Heritage, Sr.; OH Ashley Crook, Chaparral, Sr.; MB Ann Dylla, Heritage, Sr; OH Stacey Evans, Ponderosa, Jr.; S Cassy Hanneman, Arapahoe, Sr.; L Kendall Howard, Ponderosa, So.; OH Sarah Jaeckel, Heritage, So.; MB Erin Johnson, Rangeview, Sr.; S Sonja Johnson, Mountain Vista, Sr.; S Amanda Massey, Ponderosa, Sr.; MB Sarah Miller, Mountain Vista, Jr.; S/OH Mikinzie Moydell, Chaparral, So.; S/OH Alex Nuttall, Chaparral, Sr.; L Kelsey Pobar, Chaparral, Sr.; RS Katie Powers, Heritage, Sr.; MB Tara Saldivar, Ponderosa, Sr.; OH Amanda Tweedy, Rangeview, Sr.; MB Jamie Ward, Rangeview, Sr.

Denver Prep League

Favorite: Denver East

Contenders: Denver West, Kennedy, George Washington

Outlook: Denver East went undefeated in league play last season and the Angels have five returning starters back for another try at a DPL sweep. Coach Donna Simington thinks her squad has a good shot at making state this year. The Angels also have excellent size, a rare thing for Denver teams. At Kennedy, coach Ed Hardin aid he is very happy with his hard-working team, which is small and young, but gets down to business. This is one of three districts (the Skyline and Southwestern are the others) that has only four teams, but three of them qualify for the playoffs.

Key players: MB Shannon Alcott, Kennedy, Jr.; S Nora Bernal, Kennedy, Jr.; L Lilia Chavez, Kennedy, Jr.; MB Carlie Christenson, Denver East, Sr.; OH Dominique Davis, Denver East, Jr.; S Jasmine Delgado, Kennedy, So.; MB Mackenzie Gilchrist, Denver East, Sr.; L Alex McHenry, Denver East, Sr.; OH Alysa Milner, Denver East, Jr.; OH Devonn Moreno, Kennedy, Fr.

Front Range League

Favorite: Fort Collins

Contenders: Horizon, Legacy, Loveland, Monarch, Northglenn, Poudre, Rocky Mountain, Thornton

Outlook: Not many of these Front Range teams appear to be on the upswing, as several graduated their top talent and a couple others are going through or still recovering from coaching changes. Fort Collins seems to have the most depth for this season, with good height at the middle blocker position. The Lambkins turned in a 20-win season last year and have almost half their starters back. Rocky Mountain, usually one of the most competitive teams, finally will have to adjust to the loss of four-year star Alex Lopez, now at Fairfield University. Legacy also lost a tremendous hitter in versatile Melissa Jones, who will play basketball this year at Vanderbilt.

Key players: MB Mariah Allen, Rocky Mountain, Jr.; OH/L Kyndra Aragon, Thornton, Jr.; OH Emily Bleich, Rocky Mountain, Sr.; MB Alyssa Bonelli, Monarch, Sr.; S Amanda Brumit, Rocky Mountain, Jr.; MB Virginia Clay, Poudre, Jr.; OH Stacey Evans, Fort Collins, Jr.; S Kristen Harkrader, Thornton, Jr.; S Jill Kennedy, Monarch, So; OH Jaime Kreikemeier, Fort Collins, Jr.; MB Amanda Miller, Thornton, So; S Kerstin Minchow, Fort Collins, Sr.; MB Tera Moline, Fort Collins, Sr.; L Claire Patten, Monarch, Jr.; OH Alyson Porter, Monarch, Jr.; MB Reese Roehrkasse, Fort Collins, Jr.; OH/MB Kelsey Skaar, Rocky Mountain, Jr.; RS Katie Spence, Monarch, Sr.; MB Kristen Stenerson, Poudre, Sr.; OH Carly Swisher, Poudre, Sr.; OH Brianna Zimlich, Poudre, Jr.

Jefferson County League

Favorite: Columbine

Contenders: Arvada, Arvada West, Bear Creek, Chatfield, Dakota Ridge, Green Mountain, Lakewood, Pomona, Standley Lake, Wheat Ridge

Outlook: Columbine takes over the Jeffco’s top spot from Chatfield with a front row that averages 6 feet. Four returning starters have been bolstered by the addition of junior Ellen Miks, coach Kathy Miks’ daughter. Breanna Williams does it all for the Rebels. Jeffco does get nine district qualifiers from its 11 teams, so the league race probably has more importance for pride and positioning in the waterfall playoff format than any desperation to make the playoffs.

Key players: MB Shayne Brown, Lakewood, Jr.; OH Ashley Fanelli, Arvada, Sr.; S Megan Fort, Bear Creek, Jr.; RS Kait Goodall, Lakewood, Sr.; OH Luiza Griz, Lakewood, So.; MB Randee Hayes, Columbine, Jr.; MB Breanna Hollingsworth, Bear Creek, Jr.; OH Taylor Jordan, Lakewood, So.; RS Megan Koop, Columbine, Jr.; MB Courtney Lawson, Bear Creek, Jr.; OH Ellen Miks, Columbine, Jr.; MB Meagan O’Leary, Columbine, Sr.; DS Jazzy Sapp, Pomona, Sr.; S Nikky Sapp, Pomona, Sr.; OH Breanna Williams, Columbine, Sr.; OH Jennifer Youngblood, Bear Creek, Sr.

Skyline League

Favorite: Brighton

Contenders: Adams City, Aurora Central, Hinkley

Outlook: Brighton continues to be the toughest team in this area, but Aurora Central got a lift with the hiring of a new coach, Kelly Hanlon. Hanlon was the 1994 All-Colorado player of the year while at Overland and went on to play at Tennessee and Metro State. She has a lineup where players who are 5-foot-7 or 5-8 will play middle. "We’re not big, we’re not good, but we will be," Hanlon said.

Key players: MB Kim Clinton, Aurora Central, Sr.; S Lupe Guerra, Aurora Central, Jr.; OH/MB Sabrina Jones, So.; OH Jamie Kelley, Aurora Central, Sr.; OH/MB Ama Owusu, Aurora Central, So.

Southwestern League

Favorite: Durango

Contenders: Fruita Monument, Grand Junction, Grand Junction Central

Outlook: Durango graduated one of the top hitters in Class 5A, Chelsea Flaming, but coach Robin Oliger still has a very good pair of players on the left side. Grand Junction Central has even more depth than the Demons, and Fruita Monument also counts experience as an asset.

Key players: MB Andrea Davidovich, Grand Junction Central, Sr.; MB Kaylee Dollershell, Fruita Monument, Sr.; RS Meg Fisher, Grand Junction Central, Jr.; S Kaitlyn Grode, Grand Junction Central, Sr.; S Lindsey Henke, Fruita Monument, Jr.; OH Haleigh Higgins, Grand Junction Central, So.; MB Amy Kame, Grand Junction Central, So.; OH Maia Sadler, Fruita Monument, Jr.; OH Jazmin Stoner, Durango, Sr.; OH Jessica Wilson, Durango, Sr.; OH Carley Westerson, Fruita Monument, Sr.

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