Pine Creek 66, Columbine 62, Arvada West 32, Denver East 31, Fossil Ridge 24, Boulder 22, Chatfield 19, Brighton 12, Rampart 11, Fort Collins 11, Eaglecrest 9, Monarch 8, Horizon 7, Silver Creek 7, Rangeview 7, Chaparral 6, Ralston Valley 6, Liberty 6, Castle View 6, Vista PEAK Prep 4, Poudre 3, Cherokee Trail 3, Adams City 3, Fruita Monument 3, Denver South 2, Mountain Range 2, Prairie View 2, Ponderosa 1, Northglenn 1
Dropped out
Columbine (11)
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Evergreen (18)
4-0
271
1
2
Air Academy
3-0
213
4
3
Windsor (5)
6-0
211
5
4
Wheat Ridge (2)
6-0
207
2
5
D’Evelyn (1)
5-0-1
203
3
6
Loveland
5-1
99
7
7
Niwot
5-0
96
8
8
Steamboat Springs
4-0
79
–
9
Cheyenne Mountain
1-2
77
6
10
Northridge
4-0
73
–
11
Holy Family
3-1
56
10
12
The Classical Academy
3-0-1
54
9
Others receiving votes:
Palmer Ridge 49, Pueblo Centennial 47, Sand Creek 33, Falcon 32, Mead 26, Mullen 23, Green Mountain 23, Woodland Park 21, Thompson Valley 20, Pueblo South 18, Pueblo West 17, Erie 16, Discovery Canyon 15, Palisade 14, Golden 12, Durango 12, Canon City 12, Centaurus 11, Northfield 10, Denver North 10, Glenwood Springs 6, Greeley Central 6, Pueblo County 5, Coronado 5, Montrose 5, Longmont 5, Battle Mountain 4, Greeley West 4, Mountain View 3, Thomas Jefferson 2, Skyview 1
Dropped out
Palisade (11)
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Jefferson Academy (12)
5-0-1
238
1
2
Kent Denver (3)
5-0-1
231
2
3
Colorado Academy (4)
5-1
193
3
4
Lutheran
5-1
177
4
5
Vail Mountain
5-0
144
8
6
Colorado Springs Christian (2)
5-0
141
11
7
Liberty Common (1)
3-0
108
6
8
Manitou Springs
3-0
85
7
9
Middle Park
5-0
81
9
10
Prospect Ridge Academy
5-2
79
10
11
The Academy (1)
4-0
78
5
12
Basalt
6-1
60
–
Others receiving votes:
Eagle Ridge Academy 38, DSST: Byers 36, Salida 35, Peak to Peak 34, KIPP Denver Collegiate 24, Aspen 20, Stargate School 13, Bayfield 12, Jefferson 11, Englewood 7, Frontier Academy 6, DSST: Conservatory Green 2, SkyView Academy 6, Atlas Preparatory School 5, Faith Christian 2, St. Mary’s Academy 2, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 1, St. Mary’s 1
Dropped out
Aspen (8)
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Dawson School (11)
6-0
154
1
2
Telluride (2)
4-0
140
3
3
Denver Christian
2-0
113
2
4
Front Range Christian
5-1
97
4
5
Crested Butte
4-1
86
6
6
Clear Creek
3-0-1
70
7
7
Buena Vista
4-1
60
–
8
Flatirons Academy
3-1
56
5
9
Colorado Springs School
3-1
51
–
10
Thomas MacLaren School
3-2
39
–
11
Vail Christian
2-1
34
9
12
Loveland Classical
1-2-1
33
8
Others receiving votes:
Colorado Rocky Mountain 30, Ridgway 14, Twin Peaks Charter Academy 8, Center 6, Rocky Mountain Lutheran 5, Lake County 4, Grand Valley 3, Belleview Christian 3, Del Norte 3, Denver Jewish Day 2, The Vanguard School 1, Rye 1, Union Colony Prep 1
Pine Creek 43, Rocky Mountain 42, Boulder 33, Chatfield 33, Eaglecrest 23, Castle View 19, Denver East 18, Hinkley 17, Liberty 13, Fossil Ridge 11, Arvada West 10, Ponderosa 9, Ralston Valley 9, Horizon 9, Monarch 7, Fort Collins 4, Adams City 4, Poudre 3, Fruita Monument 3, Mountain Range 2, Denver South 2, Cherokee Trail 2, Chaparral 1, Vista PEAK Prep 1, Far Northeast Warriors 1, Skyline 1
Dropped out
Chatfield (11)
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Evergreen (17)
1-0
233
1
0-0
2
Wheat Ridge
2-0
182
4
0-0
3
D’Evelyn (1)
1-0
174
3
0-0
4
Air Academy
1-0
145
5
0-0
5
Windsor (2)
1-0
130
7
0-0
6
Cheyenne Mountain
1-0
108
2
0-0
7
Loveland
2-0
73
10
0-0
8
Niwot
0-0
59
11
0-0
8
Pueblo Centennial (1)
0-0
59
8
0-0
10
Holy Family
1-0
58
9
0-0
11
Palisade
2-0
45
–
0-0
12
The Classical Academy
0-0
44
–
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Northridge 35, Steamboat Springs 33, Mead 30, Golden 28, Palmer Ridge 25, Sand Creek 24, Green Mountain 23, Woodland Park 23, Canon City 23, Discovery Canyon 20, Lewis-Palmer 20, Mesa Ridge 19, Erie 19, Falcon 16, Northfield 15, Pueblo East 14, Littleton 14, Thompson Valley 14, Durango 12, Pueblo West 10, Aurora Central 9, Battle Mountain 9, Mullen 9, Pueblo South 9, Conifer 7, Glenwood Springs 6, Montrose 5, Frederick 4, Mountain View 3, Denver North 3, Skyview 1, Coronado 1, Centaurus 1
Dropped out
Sand Creek (6), Mullen (8)
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Jefferson Academy (9)
1-0
230
3
0-0
2
Kent Denver (4)
1-0
225
2
0-0
3
Colorado Academy (6)
2-0
197
1
0-0
4
Lutheran (2)
2-0
182
5
0-0
5
The Academy (1)
1-0
104
–
0-0
6
Liberty Common
0-0
101
10
0-0
7
Manitou Springs
0-0
86
–
0-0
8
Vail Mountain
2-0
83
8
0-0
9
Aspen
1-0
71
4
0-0
10
Prospect Ridge Academy
1-1
69
11
0-0
11
Colorado Springs Christian
0-0
63
–
0-0
12
Middle Park
1-0
57
9
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Peak to Peak 41, Salida 39, Stargate School 35, Basalt 34, Eagle Ridge Academy 24, DSST: Byers 18, KIPP Denver Collegiate 17, Alamosa 13, St. Mary’s 11, Frontier Academy 6, SkyView Academy 3, St. Mary’s Academy 2, DSST: Conservatory Green 2, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 1, Sterling 1, Arrupe Jesuit 1
Dropped out
None
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Dawson School (8)
0-0
118
1
0-0
2
Denver Christian (2)
0-0
111
2
0-0
3
Telluride
1-0
99
3
0-0
4
Front Range Christian
1-0
80
6
0-0
5
Flatirons Academy
1-0
78
5
0-0
6
Crested Butte
2-0
75
4
0-0
7
Clear Creek
2-0
53
9
0-0
8
Loveland Classical
1-0
34
7
0-0
9
Ridgway
1-0
33
8
0-0
10
Del Norte
1-1
20
–
0-0
11
Colorado Rocky Mountain
1-1
16
10
0-0
12
Vail Christian
1-0
14
–
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Colorado Springs School 11, Belleview Christian 10, Thomas MacLaren School 6, The Vanguard School 6, Rye 5, Denver Jewish Day 5, Buena Vista 3, Addenbrooke Classical Academy 1, Grand Valley 1, Lamar 1
Rock Canyon 50, Rocky Mountain 32, Ponderosa 32, Cherokee Trail 31, Fossil Ridge 26, Chaparral 23, Arvada West 23, Fort Collins 23, Denver East 23, Boulder 21, Pine Creek 18, Rampart 17, Liberty 15, Ralston Valley 10, Eaglecrest 7, Horizon 5, Monarch 5, Poudre 3, Denver South 2, Mountain Range 2, Skyline 1, Far Northeast Warriors 1, Heritage 1
Dropped out
Ralston Valley (9)
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Evergreen (15)
1-0
244
1
2
Cheyenne Mountain (4)
1-0
193
2
3
D’Evelyn (2)
1-0
171
3
4
Wheat Ridge
2-0
147
5
5
Air Academy
1-0
130
4
6
Sand Creek
1-0
124
6
7
Windsor (2)
1-0
120
10
8
Mullen
0-2
74
7
9
Pueblo Centennial
0-0
68
11
10
Loveland
2-0
49
–
11
Niwot
0-0
47
–
12
Holy Family
1-0
44
–
Others receiving votes:
Green Mountain 43, Mead 37, Discovery Canyon 36, The Classical Academy 35, Steamboat Springs 32, Durango 32, Golden 29, Palmer Ridge 27, Northridge 27, Palisade 27, Erie 22, Battle Mountain 17, Thompson Valley 15, Centaurus 13, Woodland Park 8, Conifer 8, Pueblo West 7, Pueblo Central 7, Glenwood Springs 6, Lewis-Palmer 6, Montrose 5, Mesa Ridge 5, Northfield 4, Mountain View 4, Frederick 4, Falcon 3, Skyview 1, Pueblo County 1
Dropped out
The Classical Academy (8), Battle Mountain (9)
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Colorado Academy (16)
2-0
228
1
2
Kent Denver (4)
1-0
211
2
3
Jefferson Academy
1-0
188
3
4
Aspen
1-0
126
5
5
Lutheran
2-0
92
10
6
Salida
0-0
82
8
7
Peak to Peak
0-2
79
4
8
Stargate School
2-0
69
–
9
Vail Mountain
2-0
64
11
10
Liberty Common
0-0
51
6
11
Prospect Ridge Academy
1-1
50
9
12
Middle Park
1-0
46
7
Others receiving votes:
Colorado Springs Christian 41, The Academy 37, Eagle Ridge Academy 35, St. Mary’s 31, Manitou Springs 19, SkyView Academy 15, Jefferson 11, KIPP Denver Collegiate 11, Roaring Fork 11, Estes Park 10, Faith Christian 10, Frontier Academy 10, Bishop Machebeuf 9, Alamosa 7, Bayfield 5, Basalt 5, Valley 3, Sterling 2, St. Mary’s Academy 2
Dropped out
St. Mary’s (8)
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
1
Dawson School (6)
0-0
127
1
2
Denver Christian (5)
0-0
126
2
3
Telluride
1-0
98
3
4
Crested Butte
2-0
94
4
5
Flatirons Academy
1-0
89
5
6
Front Range Christian
1-0
66
6
7
Loveland Classical
1-0
51
7
8
Ridgway
1-0
49
8
9
Belleview Christian
0-0
38
10
10
Colorado Rocky Mountain
1-1
29
11
11
Colorado Springs School
0-0
24
9
12
Clear Creek
2-0
17
–
Others receiving votes:
Del Norte 11, Vail Christian 10, Thomas MacLaren School 8, Grand Valley 5, Addenbrooke Classical Academy 4, Rocky Mountain Lutheran 3, Rye 3, Buena Vista 3, Nederland 1, Lamar 1, Campion Academy 1
LITTLETON — Columbine sisters Abi and Rita Nua intensely eyed the ball on what would be the final point during the nearly 7-hour marathon of volleyball action Saturday.
The bump over the net by Denver East senior Bella Simkus after a serve by sophomore Rita Nua landed just out to conclude the long day at Dakota Ridge High School. The No. 4-seeded Rebels immediately went into celebration mode after Columbine clinched the Class 5A Region 4 title and berth into the state tournament with a 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 25-17 over the Angels.
Columbine senior Abi Nua (9) will lead the Rebels into the 8-team Class 5A state tournament that is scheduled for May 12 and 13 at The Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It’s amazing. These girls are resilient,” Columbine coach Shelly Kurach said. “It was one step at a time. We fought and we fought and we stuck together. That is why we won. These girls are awesome people.”
The Rebels (12-1 record) opened the regional tournament with a 5-set victory over No. 21 Loveland. Columbine scored the first eight points in the final set to lock up the big victory, but it was a few sets earlier that really turned it around for the Rebels.
Loveland (9-5) and Columbine had split the first two sets, but the Indians looked to go up 2-1 with a commanding lead in the third.
Kurach pointed to the Rebels’ come-from-behind victory in the third set as a key moment during the day. The Indians held an 18-7 lead, but Columbine rallied to take a 26-24 win and steal a 2-1 lead in the match.
“Our coach prepared us so well,” Abi Nua said. “She puts all the faith in us. She teaches us and we use those skills on the court.”
Columbine closed out a 25-22, 23-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-7 victory over Loveland to grab the driver’s seat. No. 13 Denver East (13-2) edged Loveland in another 5-set triller to set up a winner-take-all situation in the final match.
Denver East junior Taylor Day, right, tries to put down a spike over Columbine senior Caylen Alms (15) and junior Audrey Dowd (5) during the Class 5A Region 4 tournament Saturday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Rebels grabbed a 2-0 lead behind the play of Abi Nua, who came in with more than 220 kills on the season. Denver East continued to set its left side to avoid giving a chance for Abi Nua to block any spike attempts on the senior’s side of the net.
“No matter what happens on the court we are ready to play that ball,” Abi said about Denver East staying away from her side of the court the entire match. “I trust my team and every one of my teammates.”
The Angels weren’t done after falling behind. Denver East took a 25-19 victory in the third set to threaten to force a third straight 5-set match.
“I knew we were all tired and we had worked so hard,” Columbine junior setter Audrey Dowd said. “We were sinking a little in that third (set), but we pulled out of it.”
Abi Nua got involved offensively with several kills in the last set. Dowd looked to Abi Nua with the Rebels trying to wrap up the victory.
“It’s nice when you have someone like Abi who can close it out,” Dowd said.
Columbine senior Francesca Cereda (12) tries to tip the ball over the outreached arms of Loveland senior Maddie Kinney during the opening match of the Class 5A Region 4 tournament Saturday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Every ball Abi Nua seemed to touch in the final set ended up on the floor on Denver East’s side of the net.
“Abi is an amazing player and she works hard,” Kurach said. “She is the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. She does her job and trusts her teammates to do their job. She hold them to a high standard all the time and that is why this team works.”
Columbine was the final 5A team to advance to state. Mountain Vista, Rampart, Ralston Valley, Columbine, Cherry Creek, Legend, Grandview and Chatfield are the eight qualifiers. The Class 5A Jeffco League qualified three teams to the condensed 8-team state tournament this season.
“That is awesome. I can’t be more proud of our league,” Kurach said of the Rebels joining rivals Chatfield and Ralston Valley in the state tournament. “It’s so great we can get to the final 8 and represent Jeffco. It says how strong our conference is.”
It will be a bit of a wait now. The state tournament was originally scheduled for May 10 and 11 the NORCO Volleyball Facility in Loveland, but moved a little over a week ago to May 12 and 13 at The Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs.
While Kurach said the challenge now is to keep her squad focused for the state tournament, the Rebels won’t mind a bit of time before heading back into competition.
“I think we are ready to have a little rest,” Abi said of the 10-day break before the state tournament. “I know we are all really tired, but really excited to play on that state floor.”
Columbine senior Analeece Ellis (14) attempt to put down a kill through the block attempt of Denver East seniors Bella Simkus (8) and Harper Johnson (2) during the Class 5A Region 4 tournament Saturday at Dakota Ridge High School. Loveland, Denver East and Columbine battled in three matches that lasted 7 hours before Columbine closed out a 3-1 victory over Denver East to punch its ticket to the 5A state tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
