Niwot on Monday announced that it has hired Daisha Agho as its new volleyball coach.
Agho has spent the past eight seasons as the coach at Berthoud, where she has compiled a 94-89 record, including 57-24 over the past three years.
Agho’s teams have gone to the Class 4A state tournament for three consecutive seasons.
“With coach Agho, we are not only getting a coach, but we are also getting a mentor for young women,” Niwot athletic director Chase McBride said in a statement. “The relationships she has developed with her athletes have been the backbone of her success. (With her) winning Tri Valley coach of the year, three-time regional champion, and recent state tournament experiences, coach Agho is the type of fit for our program that we feel can take us to the next level.
“We have an extremely talented and experienced group of girls coming back to the program, and we are thrilled to have coach Agho at the head of our program.”
She takes over a Niwot program that has had a lot of recent success under Preston Brown. Since 2013, Niwot is 67-37, including appearances at the 4A state tournament in 2016 and 2014, as well as regional berths in 2013 and 2015.
The Cougars return a number of key contributors next season, including Mackenzie Fidelak, who led the team with 331 kills, Zoe Gonzales (a team-high 95 blocks), and Ashley Bradbury (a team-best 319 digs).
D’Evelyn sophomore Justin Fritchie pitched a complete-game Tuesday against Berthoud. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
DENVER — D’Evelyn senior Christion Cedillo did whatever it took to produce at the plate Tuesday.
In Cedillo’s first at-bat, he produced an RBI after the plate umpire ruled catcher interference on the senior’s swing. Senior Dylan Aurich scored from third base to start the scoring in the Class 4A non-league baseball game at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
“It’s another day at the ballpark. A fun day with my team,” Cedillo said after the 11-1 victory against Berthoud. “We’ve put in the effort during the off-season. It’s paying off and we are bonding as a team. That is what wins games.”
Cedillo finished 3-for-3 from the plate with four RBIs. The Jaguars (2-0 record) actually held a narrow lead for most of the game against the Spartans. D’Evelyn’s offense exploded for a 7-run bottom of the sixth inning to induced the 10-run mercy rule and end the game.
D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco has the Jaguars off to a 2-0 start. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“This is a team that doesn’t have a lot of power like we’ve had in the past,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said. “We’ve got to make things happen.”
With two outs — Willie Gordon, Andrew Helmreich, Cedillo, Tyler Hobbs, Tanner Robberson and Justin Fritchie all reached safely in the sixth inning to pile up the seven runs needed to end the game.
“We did a good job of seeing the ball at the end of the game,” Fritchie said after hitting the game-ending 2-run double. “It was important to put it into play.”
Fritchie, 6-foot-4 sophomore, had a pair of hits. However, his complete-game performance on the mound was even more impressive. The righty gave up just two hits over six innings.
Berthoud’s lone run was an RBI groundout by Spartans’ Brogan Sontag to third base in the top of the third inning to tie the game a 1-1. Fritchie proceeded to retire 10 straight batters after the lone Berthoud run.
“He (Fritchie) did an exceptional job. He trusted us with defense and we trusted him,” Cedillo said. “It was a good balance. You couldn’t ask more for a sophomore.”
D’Evelyn senior Willie Gordon takes a cut Tuesday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
It was the second varsity start for Fritchie. He got one start on the mound last year as a freshman. He finished with four strikeouts and nine groundouts.
“Fritchie did a nice job pitching,” Porreco said. “It’s nice to get that early in the season because of the pitch counts.”
D’Evelyn has two more non-league games before heading to Vero Beach, Florida for spring break. The Jaguars will play a trio of games and get in plenty of practice at the former Los Angeles Dodgers spring training facility.
The Jaguars should be in the mix for the 4A Jeffco League title that features defending state champion Valor Christian.
“We really need nine guys to do something during the game. We can’t have guys do absolutely nothing when we get into our league,” Porreco said. “Everyone has to chip in and our pitching has got to be good.”
D’Evelyn senior Christion Cedillo, middle, is greeted by junior Tanner Robberson after crossing the plate during the Jaguars’ 11-1 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The 2016 regional volleyball brackets were released on Monday, and the qualifying schools all found out who they’d be playing and where they’d be going.
The 3A-5A brackets had their fields set by the RPI, and the teams were seeded by the final RPI standings, as well, with some changes made due to geography and first-round league matchups. Teams in 1A and 2A qualified for the regional round after playing in districts last week.
In Class 5A, it was Fossil Ridge who earned the top overall seed after finishing with the highest RPI rating. As a result, the Sabercats will their region.
Rock Canyon, Fairview, Chatfield, Denver East, Chaparral, Mountain Vista, Rampart, Fruita Monument Arapahoe, Loveland and Ralston Valley are the other 5A host teams.
In 4A, undefeated Lewis-Palmer rightfully sits in the No. 1 spot. The Rangers are looking to reclaim the 4A title that they lost to Cheyenne Mountain last year.
Along with the Rangers, it will be Eagle Valley, Cheyenne Mountain, Montrose, Pueblo West, Valor Christian, Holy Family, Berthoud, Thomas Jefferson, Silver Creek, Niwot and Palisade hosting for 4A regionals.
Eaton stands tall as the top overall seed in 3A regionals and is looking to claim a fourth-consecutive title in 2016.
Valley, Colorado Springs Christian, University, Bayfield, Resurrection Christian, Faith Christian, Middle Park, Salida, St. Mary’s, Sterling and Pagosa Springs are the other teams that earned the right to host.
After the completion of district play in 2A, the eight host-site teams were determined. Unlike 3A-5A, which is seeded by RPI, 2A regional brackets are seeded by district results.
Hoehne, Dayspring Christian, Paonia, Denver Christian, Del Norte, Yuma, Telluride and Colorado Springs School will all host regional play this weekend.
Like 2A, the 1A regional brackets are determined by the outcome of district play. As a result, it will be La Veta, Kit Carson, Flagler, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Nucla, Springfield, Kiowa and Weldon Valley who will serve as regional hosts.
The results of regionals will set the state tournament pairings for all classes.
Fossil Ridge is making a case to be considered as a top team in the state after jumping to No. 2 in the Class 5A CHSAANow.com volleyball rankings this week.
The SaberCats are winners of three-straight and will conclude regular season play this week when they travel to the Cheyenne Mountain tournament this weekend.
Mountain Vista made a two-spot jump this week after wins over Chaparral and Highlands Ranch last week.
Fruita Monument is the only new team to join the 5A poll, coming in at No. 10.
After a clean sweep of Cheyenne Mountain in the Pikes Peak Athletic Conference title game, Lewis-Palmer remains the No. 1 team in 4A.
The top of the 4A rankings certainly have a different look as Pueblo West jumps three spots to No. 2 and Eagle Valley (No. 4) and Montrose (No. 5) each jumped four spots to land in the top five.
Berthoud is the lone newcomer in 4A at No. 10.
In 3A, Eaton still sits atop the rankings while University hung on to its spot at No. 2.
St. Mary’s (No. 8) and Delta (No. 10) are the two new teams to break into the 3A poll.
Dayspring Christian still sits at No. 1 in the 2A, but it was the Colorado Springs School that made a noticeable jump, going from No. 4 to No. 2 heading into the final week of the regular season.
At No. 10, West Grand is the only new team in the 2A rankings.
Like all other classes this week, 1A saw the No. 1 spot go unchanged as Fleming held its ground.
Flagler (No. 4) and McClave (No. 5) did gain some ground on the top teams as both teams jumped two spots from a week ago.
Kiowa is the lone newcomer to the 1A poll, coming in at No. 8.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
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.
Broomfield is 17-2-0 this season. The Eagles will host No. 32 Denver East, No. 16 Legacy and No. 17 Castle View in Region 1.
Also hosting in 5A are Grand Junction Central, Cherokee Trail, Douglas County, Eaglecrest, Legend, Arvada West and Loveland.
Defending champion Mountain Range is the No. 26 seed.
Erie is the No. 1 seed in 4A. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Erie is the lone remaining unbeaten team in any of the three classes at 19-0-0, and they are the No. 1 seed in 4A. They will host No. 32 Montrose, No. 16 Golden and No. 17 Berthoud in Region 1.
Other hosts in 4A include Mullen, Valor Christian, Pueblo West, Wheat Ridge, Mountain View, Silver Creek and Conifer.
Valor Christian is the defending champion.
In 3A, Strasburg sits in prime position as it tries to defend its title. The team will host No. 16 Meeker and No. 17 Limon in its Region 1.
Other hosts include Rocky Ford, Eaton, Brush, Lamar, The Academy, Basalt and Burlington. Valley also received a high seed, but isn’t hosting.
The 3A field expanded to 24 teams this season, the most its ever had.
Pueblo West has jumped into the Class 4A CHSAANow.com volleyball rankings at No. 6. The Cyclones have rattled off four-straight wins and haven’t even dropped a set since Sept. 16
Lewis-Palmer is still the unanimous No. 1 team in 4A and is looking more like the team that won back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015.
Berthoud also broke into the 4A poll this week, coming in at No. 9.
Rock Canyon is still the No. 1 team in a very competitive 5A class. The Jaguars are undefeated in league play and have not lost since Sept. 3.
Mountain Vista (No. 4) and Highlands Ranch (No. 8) are both two spots better than they were in last week’s poll.
At No. 8, Ralston Valley is the only new team in the 5A poll.
Eaton is still receiving every first-place vote in 3A to hang on to the position it has held all season long.
Colorado Springs Christian School jumped three spots to come in at No. 2, but University had the biggest jump of the week, improving four spots to land at No. 4.
Bayfield is the only new team in the 3A poll, coming in at No. 9.
Paonia still has a firm grasp on the No. 1 spot in 2A with Dayspring Christian still holding strong at No. 2.
Yuma jumped three spots to land at No. 4.
There were no new teams in the 2A poll this week.
While Fleming held its position at No. 1 in 1A, there were plenty of changes to speak of in that poll.
McClave jumped a staggering five spots to come in at No. 4 this week.
There were also three new teams in the 1A poll, the most of any class in this set of rankings.
Holly comes in at No. 8, Heritage Christian lands at No. 9 and Sierra Grande rounds out the poll at No. 10.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
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.
