Three teams favored to three-peat in preseason volleyball rankings
Last fall, for the first time in state history, every single volleyball champion successfully defended its title. Three of them are favored to win a third consecutive championship heading into the 2015 season.
Defending champions Lewis-Palmer (Class 4A), Eaton (3A) and Resurrection Christian (2A) are among top-ranked teams in the CHSAANow.com Volleyball Polls, which were released Monday. Also heading their respective classifications are Cherokee Trail (5A) and Idalia (1A).
The last team to win more than two straight titles was Cheyenne Mountain, which won five from 2008-12.
Lewis-Palmer is actually coming off a mythical national championship in addition to its two 4A titles. The Rangers got eight of the 11 first-place votes in 4A’s preseason poll. Ponderosa, the team they beat for the 2014 title, is No. 2.
Eaton, the defending 3A champion, holds the top spot in that poll after getting eight of the 10 first-place votes in that class. Colorado Springs Christian opens at No. 2.
In 2A, Resurrection Christian — yes, another defending champion — got six of the seven first-place votes to top the preseason poll. The Cougars have actually won 58-straight matches, which ranks fifth-best all-time. Yuma is No. 2.
Cherokee Trail opens as the favorite in 5A. The Cougars got six of the 11 first-place votes. Grandview, last season’s champion, is No. 2 and got one first-place vote.
Cherry Creek is No. 3, and Regis Jesuit is No. 4. Chatfield, the 2014 runner-up, is No. 5. The Charges received two first-place votes.
Two teams — Fossil Ridge and Brighton — received first-place votes, but did not make the 5A ranking.
The 1A poll is led by Idalia, which got all six first-place votes. Flagler is No. 2.
Fleming won last season’s 1A title, and has won 47 consecutive matches. The Wildcats open at No. 9.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Complete rankings for all classes are below.
CHSAANow.com Volleyball Polls
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
| Class 5A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | W-L | PTS |
| 1 | Cherokee Trail (6) | 0-0 | 101 |
| 2 | Grandview (1) | 0-0 | 85 |
| 3 | Cherry Creek | 0-0 | 78 |
| 4 | Regis Jesuit | 0-0 | 64 |
| 5 | Chatfield (2) | 0-0 | 59 |
| 6 | Eaglecrest | 0-0 | 55 |
| 7 | Chaparral | 0-0 | 32 |
| 8 | Legend | 0-0 | 30 |
| 9 | Fairview | 0-0 | 23 |
| 10 | Highlands Ranch | 0-0 | 21 |
| Others receiving votes: | |||
| Fossil Ridge 18, Arapahoe 14, Brighton 10, Denver East 9, Pine Creek 9, Fort Collins 8, Ralston Valley 8, Rampart 7, Columbine 6, Loveland 6, Rocky Mountain 6, Lakewood 5, Rock Canyon 3, Rangeview 2, Douglas County 1. | |||
| Class 4A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | W-L | PTS |
| 1 | Lewis-Palmer (8) | 0-0 | 106 |
| 2 | Ponderosa (1) | 0-0 | 89 |
| 3 | Cheyenne Mountain (2) | 0-0 | 76 |
| 4 | Pueblo West | 0-0 | 50 |
| 5 | Valor Christian | 0-0 | 48 |
| 6 | Mullen | 0-0 | 30 |
| 7 | Montrose | 0-0 | 28 |
| 8 | Battle Mountain | 0-0 | 26 |
| 9 | Air Academy | 0-0 | 19 |
| 10 | Niwot | 0-0 | 18 |
| Others receiving votes: | |||
| Thomas Jefferson 13, Holy Family 12, Longmont 12, Roosevelt 12, Thompson Valley 12, Berthoud 11, The Classical Academy 9, Mead 8, Windsor 8, Woodland Park 5, Eagle Valley 3, Mesa Ridge 3, Canon City 2, Silver Creek 2, Durango 1, Green Mountain 1, Sierra 1, Steamboat Springs 1. | |||
| Class 3A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | W-L | PTS |
| 1 | Eaton (8) | 0-0 | 98 |
| 2 | Colorado Springs Christian (1) | 0-0 | 70 |
| 3 | Manitou Springs (1) | 0-0 | 67 |
| 4 | Valley | 0-0 | 66 |
| 5 | University | 0-0 | 59 |
| 6 | Platte Valley | 0-0 | 56 |
| 7 | Bayfield | 0-0 | 32 |
| 8 | Lutheran | 0-0 | 25 |
| 9 | Sterling | 0-0 | 23 |
| 10 | Pagosa Springs | 0-0 | 19 |
| Others receiving votes: | |||
| Faith Christian 14, Coal Ridge 10, Middle Park 3, St. Mary’s 3, Buena Vista 2, Eagle Ridge 1, Olathe 1, Peak to Peak 1. | |||
| Class 2A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | W-L | PTS |
| 1 | Resurrection Christian (6) | 0-0 | 62 |
| 2 | Yuma | 0-0 | 55 |
| 3 | Caliche | 0-0 | 42 |
| 4 | Akron | 0-0 | 39 |
| 5 | Paonia | 0-0 | 37 |
| 6 | Lyons (1) | 0-0 | 30 |
| 7 | Dayspring Christian | 0-0 | 22 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs School | 0-0 | 19 |
| 9 | Ridgway | 0-0 | 18 |
| 10 | Sargent | 0-0 | 14 |
| Others receiving votes: | |||
| Rye 12, Swink 11, Simla 8, Byers 7, Vail Christian 5, Cedaredge 2, Ignacio 1, South Park 1. | |||
| Class 1A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | W-L | PTS |
| 1 | Idalia (6) | 0-0 | 60 |
| 2 | Flagler | 0-0 | 49 |
| 3 | Otis | 0-0 | 43 |
| 4 | Weldon Valley | 0-0 | 35 |
| 5 | Prairie | 0-0 | 30 |
| 6 | Genoa-Hugo/Karval | 0-0 | 21 |
| 7 | Kit Carson | 0-0 | 19 |
| 8 | Nucla | 0-0 | 16 |
| 9 | Fleming | 0-0 | 13 |
| 10 | Community Christian | 0-0 | 10 |
| Others receiving votes: | |||
| La Veta 8, Cheraw 6, North Park 6, McClave 5, Springfield 4, Eads 3, Hi-Plains 2. | |||
