Headline: Niwot High School boys volleyball wins season opener

The Niwot High School boys volleyball season has officially started, with the Cougars starting strong. Niwot won the season opener in a 3-1 series against Fossil Ridge High School on March 5 but lost their second series, 3-0, to Thornton High School on March 7. Niwot is off to a 1-1 start to the season with two games next week and a chance to improve that record.

In their opening game against Fossil Ridge, the Cougars got off to a rocky start as they were outplayed early, losing the first set 25-15. Niwot recalibrated and put together a solid hour of volleyball, winning the next three sets, 25-21, 25-18, and 25-18, to win the match.

Niwot was led by Diego Kheng, who notched nine kills in the match with a 43% kill percentage. Jenu Ngialah notched seven kills, followed by Shen Lam's six, Sage Xiong and Murray Avila's four, and Ethan Erekson's one. Lam led the team with five service aces, followed by Xiong's three, and Ngialah and Avila's one each.

Kheng and Gabe Victor led as defensive anchors with one block each. Victor and Charlie Kirtland both led the team with 11 digs, while Xiong's eight, Kheng and Ngialah's five, Lam's four, Erekson's three, and Rowan Keller's two followed.

Niwot's next game came against Thornton High School which defeated Niwot 3-0. Niwot was competitive in the early sets, holding a 23-21 lead in the first set before falling 25-23. The lost set translated to lost momentum as Niwot lost the next two sets 25-16 and 25-16.

Victor led the team in kills in this match, with nine. Kheng followed with seven kills, then Ngialah's four, Lam's three, and Xiong, Keller, and Avila's two followed him. Niwot scored just one ace, scoring off of Kirtland's serve.

The Cougars recorded no blocks during the game. Lam led the team alongside Victor and Ngialah with five digs each. Kirtland had four while Xiong followed with three. Kheng and Avila rounded the digs out with two apiece.

Niwot is primarily relying on juniors and sophomores in their early games. Niwot has seen solid production from their seniors as well, giving hope for a successful season, and future seasons to come.

Niwot's next two games will be on Monday, March 11, against Cherry Creek High School at Cherry Creek and Thursday, March 14, against Arvada West High School at home. Both games will be at 6:30 p.m.