Volleyball: Niwot remains unbeaten in conference play

Last week was a good week for the Cougars volleyball team.

First, senior Brynn Chavez was named MaxPreps/AVCA Colorado Player of the Week for September 12-18. In six games, Chavez, who is the team’s setter, had 67 assists, 12 digs and eight aces.

Next, Niwot finally broke into the top 10 of the Class 4A rankings in the CHSAA Coaches poll, debuting at number nine, just one spot ahead of rival Silver Creek.

And finally, the Cougars won another two conference matches, extending their league winning streak to six, retaining sole possession of the top spot in the Northern League.

For Coach Preston Brown and his players, the accolades and recognition are nice, but it’s the wins that matter right now.

“We have to take care of our conference schedule,” he explained. “The higher our rank, the better our chance to go deep in the post season.”

On September 20, the Cougars beat the Mountain View Mountain Lions (6-5) in their closest match of the season, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 26-24.

Junior Mackenzie Fidelak led the Cougars in kills, with 16. She also had three aces, the most on the night for Niwot. Sophomore Ashley Bradbury led the team in digs with 21, while sophomore Zoe Gonzales was the Cougars’ top blocker, with five.

“Mountain View has a tenacious defense, and we were a little tentative and a little frustrated,” said Coach Brown. “They gave us a run for our money.”

On September 22, the Cougars traveled to Greeley, where they swept the Greeley Central Wildcats (2-4) 25-13, 25-16, 25-16, for their sixth straight conference win. Gonzales and senior Sarah Falk each had 10 kills on the night to lead the Cougars’ attack, while senior Courtney Smoljan chipped in with five aces and nine digs. Chavez had 34 assists (bringing her weekly total to 73), and sophomore Rachel Priola had her best game of 2016 so far, with two aces and seven digs.

The Cougars were back in action on September 27, at home against the Centaurus Warriors (4-10). On September 29, they will face Thompson Valley (4-8) for the second time this season.

(9/20) — Niwot 3, Mountain View 1

Niwot (6-3, 6-0) 25, 25, 18, 26

Mountain View (6-4, 3-2) 20, 23, 25, 24

Kills — Mackenzie Fidelak 16, Sarah Falk 11, Emma Falk 9, Zoe Gonzales 5, Audrey Richard 1

Blocks — Zoe Gonzales 5, Emma Falk 4, M. Fidelak 2

Digs — Ashley Bradbury 21, Brynn Chavez 19, Mackenzie Fidelak 15, Courtney Smoljan 9, Audrey Richard 8, Rachel Priola 7, Emma Falk 5, Sarah Falk 2, Zoe Gonzales 1, Emma Shiers 1

Aces —Mackenzie Fidelak 3, Emma Falk 2, Courtney Smoljan 2, Ashley Bradbury 1

(9/22) — Niwot 3, Greeley Central 0

Niwot (7-3, 6-0) 25, 25, 25

Greeley Central (2-4, 2-4) 13, 16, 15

Kills — Sarah Falk 10, Zoe Gonzales 10, Mackenzie Fidelak 6, Emma Falk 4, Emma Shiers 3, Brynn Chavez 1, Audrey Richard 1

Blocks — Mackenzie Fidelak 3, Emma Falk 2, Zoe Gonzales 2, Sarah Falk 1

Digs — Ashley Bradbury 9, Courtney Smoljan 9, Rachel Priola 7, Mackenzie Fidelak 6, Brynn Chavez 4, Sarah Falk 3, Rachel Oliver 3

Aces — Courtney Smoljan 5, Rachel Priola 2, Ashley Bradbury 1, Brynn Chavez 1, Emma Falk 1, Sarah Falk 1, Mackenzie Fidelak 1