One Colorado Volleyball Region to Watch in Each Classification

If the state tournament serves as the most intense weekend for high school volleyball, then regionals have to serve as the most chaotic. Essentially everyone still has a glimmer of hope to reach the Denver Coliseum, and ponytails will be flying throughout every corner of the state.

With well over 100 teams in contention across all five classifications on Friday and Saturday, there are too many marquee matchups to count. So here is a highly subjective look at the region to watch from each classification. Reminder, the winner of each region advances to the state tournament.

Class 5A
Region 5
Denver East finished runner-up last season and has ambitions of making another appearance in the title match. The fifth-seeded and host Angels (19-4) are definitely the regional favorite behind senior Chase Jackson (233 kills), but might receive a firm challenge Friday from No. 20 Highlands Ranch. The Falcons (15-8) are battle-tested after finishing 7-3 in the rugged Continental League and have a savage in 6-foot-1 senior captain Melissa Evans (424 kills). Rangeview (Aurora) fills out the regional bracket, and the No. 32 Raiders are no pushover at 15-8. Honorable mention goes to Region 1, where top-seeded Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) will look to unseat reigning champion Cherokee Trail (Aurora). The Cougars (11-12) check in at No. 24.

Class 4A
Region 2
Many have already penciled in Lewis-Palmer (Monument) as the 4A champ, considering the Rangers are ranked No. 4 in the nation in MaxPreps' XCellent 25. Eagle Valley (Gypsum) isn't one that has. The Devils and senior Molly Jewett have their sights set on a title of their own and breaking through the classification's Colorado Springs-area dominance. The Devils, seeded No. 2 and one spot ahead of Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs), will have to oust No. 23 Evergreen (11-12), a semifinalist last season. But here's the catch: Evergreen defeated the Eagle Valley last week in a best-of-three tournament match. No. 35 Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) fills out the region, which will be played Saturday.

Class 3A
Region 6
While Eaton's pursuit of a fourth straight title and the Patriot League's overall dominance will be the primary storylines (the league accounts for three of the top four seeds), here is an alternate angle. Resurrection Christian (Loveland) earned a host seed in its first year up from 2A, and setter extraordinaire Saylor Webb and the Cougars are aiming to establish themselves in the new classification with a trip to state. The Cougars (17-6) will have to oust No. 19 Alamosa and No. 31 Peak to Peak (Lafayette) to make it happen.

Class 2A
Region F
Two semifinalists from last season in the same regional bracket? Yes, please. Yuma hasn't been as dominant as the 28-1 group that steamrolled to the 2A crown last season, but the Indians (19-4) have been solid once again and earned a host seed behind Luisa Hernandez, Kenedy Roth and others. Escaping the bracket is no guarantee, however, with Lyons (18-5) also in the mix. The Lions and super freshman Taylor Maguire are aiming for revenge Friday in this rematch of last season's semifinals, which Yuma swept. The Indians also swept a head-to-head matchup in September. The region also includes potent Haxtun (15-7).

Class 1A
Region G
Kiowa has been awesome this season behind Melanie Deering's 374 kills, and the Indians (21-2) are thrilled to be hosting on Friday. But lurking in the region is Otis (17-6), and the defending- champion Bulldogs are bent on getting back into the state bracket. Senior Essence Tolson and her teammates won't be an easy out, but will have to be on the top of their game on Kiowa's home floor to get back to the Coliseum. The region also includes Elbert (10-13).