NHS Volleyball preps for playoffs

Entering last weekend, the Niwot High School girls volleyball team had a 16-3 record, and was cruising through the Granite Peaks 5A/4A League in first place, with a record of 12-1.

As is the custom for Coach Tony Engel, the Cougars participated in the Cheyenne Mountain Tournament, held at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs. The event is annually the top tournament in the state, held just before playoffs begin, and the Cougars won at least one match in every set, but came away with four losses, albeit to some of the top teams in the state.

Niwot moved up to Class 5A this season, and entered the weekend ranked 15th in the state. "Our team has performed at a high level for the conference we're in," Engel said. "The tournament is the elite of the elite, and includes the top eight teams in 4A and the top eight teams in 5A. There are 32 teams, and we made the upper bracket."

That meant that the Cougars were matched up against top competition all weekend. "We competed really well," Engels said. "We played Lewis-Palmer real tight, and they are number two in the state in 4A. Lutheran is number seven in 4A, Palmer Ridge is in the top 10 in 4A, and Platte Valley is number one in 3A."

In the first match on Friday, Nov.1, Niwot lost to Lewis-Palmer High School, 3-1. After losing the first two games 25-19 and 25-22, the Cougars rallied to win the third game, 25-23, but came out on the short end of the fourth game, 25-21.

The second Friday match pitted the Cougars against Platte Valley High School. After losing the first game, 25-18, Niwot rallied to win the second game, 25-18. But after that, the Cougars ran out of gas, losing the last two games, 25-21 and 25-13.

On Saturday, the Cougars started strong against Lutheran High School, winning the first game 25-15. Lutheran came back to take the second game, 25-20, and the third game 25-22. But Niwot returned the favor with a 25-22 victory in the fourth game, to set up the fifth and deciding game of the match. The Cougars battled, but in the end, Lutheran prevailed 17-15 to take the set.

In the fourth and final match, Niwot started strong, defeating Palmer Ridge High School 25-22, but three consecutive losses, 25-20, 25-13 and 25-21, ended the day for the Cougars.

Niwot will travel to Pueblo for the first round of regionals next weekend as the 15th seed to play against Pueblo West (10th seed) and Legacy (27th seed). Niwot will play Legacy first after the Pueblo West-Legacy match at 10 a.m. "The tournament put us in a great position," Engel said. "We know we can hang with them."