Ten key questions entering Colorado volleyball regionals

It is no secret the power of Colorado volleyball lies to the south, particularly at the big-school level.

A perusal of the top nine regional seeds in Class 5A reveals that all of them reside south of Denver, a large handful in the southern-metro area corridor. Included is top-seeded Eaglecrest (Centennial), a top-flight contender behind Illinois-bound setter Jordyn Poulter.

 Fellow Centennial League squads Grandview (Aurora), Cherokee Trail (Aurora) and Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) also are region hosts among the top nine. The nearby Continental League and Colorado Springs Metro League also are well represented.

So, while it's clear where the 5A power is rooted, many inquiries are unanswered as regional play for all classifications commences Friday. Here are 10 key questions, two from each classification:

1. Which team north of Interstate-70 has the best chance to make noise in the 5A postseason? Fairview (Boulder) would have to be the first choice. The Knights have 5A's best record at 21-2 and have a fine sophomore setter in Audrey Cheng. Perhaps it's foreboding, though, that No. 10 Fairview opens region play against Rangeview (Aurora), which is responsible for one of the Knights' defeats.

2. Which non-host squad is the most likely to survive regionals? This isn't exactly going out on a limb, but No. 13 Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) appears as talented as a host seed and essentially equal to No. 12 Legend (Parker) in regards to overall talent. Each has played an ambitious schedule and is battle-tested, but Fossil Ridge's senior-heavy front line is a potential difference-maker.

3. Will Lewis-Palmer (Monument) advance and have the opportunity to repeat as 4A champs? It would be difficult to pick against Purdue-bound Alexa Smith, a MaxPreps National Volleyball Player of the Year candidate along with Eaglecrest's Poulter. The Rangers (23-0) have lost a mere four sets all season and none within the classification.

4. If someone other than Lewis-Palmer's Smith is named tournament MVP, who would it be? How about Ponderosa (Parker) kill machine Allison Smith (no relation) or setter Becca Page? Perhaps Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) setter Holly Huffman has a chance, or maybe heavy hitters Elise Hill of Montrose or Cassidy Wurth of Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch).

5. Is top-seeded Eaton truly the favorite in 3A? All indications point to yes. The Reds won it all last season, and their lone loss this season is a 2-1 tournament decision to Grandview, a top-flight 5A contender. That makes Eaton and senior outside hitter Kortney Lockey the clear team to beat. But don't count out league rival and 2012 champ Valley (Gilcrest), along with a host of others.

6. Which Ridge will survive in 3A? Many have witnessed Eagle Ridge Academy (Brighton) rocket to a 18-2 record, including 14 straight wins, but have wondered just how potent the Brighton-based Warriors are. The Confluence League champs will get a chance to prove themselves as the No. 14 seed, playing in a region at No. 11 Coal Ridge (New Castle) (17-6).

7. Which of the unbeatens in 2A will remain that way (if any)? Paonia and Resurrection Christian (Loveland) each are 23-0 and Swink is 22-0. Sure, all of them appear locks to make it to state. But only one at the most can end the season without a loss, obviously. Don't bet against defending-champion Resurrection Christian, which has experience in keeping an unbeaten season intact. The Cougars were 29-0 last season.

8. Which is the hottest non-unbeaten team in 2A? That distinction clearly belongs to Sargent (Monte Vista), which, led by senior Kelci VanTreese, has reeled off 22 straight wins after opening the season with a loss to 3A Monte Vista. Runner-up is a tie between Yuma and Colorado Springs School, with each riding a 15-match win streak.

9. Can Fleming repeat in 1A? The Wildcats are riding a 42-match winning streak after graduating only one senior from last season's title-winning squad. The Wildcats (24-0) return three all-staters in Timmi Keisel, Megan Chintala and Rachel Frantz and are looking to land in the title game for the eighth time in nine seasons.

10. Does Idalia have the best shot to spoil Fleming's perfect season? The team that lost the fewest sets in 1A this season is Idalia (20-1), not Fleming. The Wolves lost only five of their 64 sets this year, including a trio in a 3-1 loss to Fleming in early September. Kylie Chamberlain's group would like nothing more than a chance to turn the tables.