Soroco volleyball

6 p.m. Friday: Soroco (5-1) vs. North Park (3-1)
 2 p.m. Saturday: Soroco at De Beque (1-3)


Friday’s home game against North Park offers a test for the Rams, so far off to a strong start. Just like Soroco, North Park has lost only once, and just like Soroco, North Park recently defeated Vail Mountain in three games. Unlike Soroco, North Park beat Gilpin County, the only team to defeat the Rams this season.

The team has big hitters and savvy players in key positions and has been able to play like a veteran squad so far. It will need to tap that trait in a big way at home Friday.

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Soroco football

7 p.m. Friday: Soroco (1-2) vs. Dayspring Christian (2-0)

The Rams laid an egg Saturday, racking up five turnovers in a loss to Plateau Valley, 33-26. If they make even a fraction that many mistakes against Dayspring Christian, they’ll likely be trailing by a lot more than one touchdown.

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Dayspring is undefeated and the No. 1 ranked team in the state. The Eagles have managed to keep their offense balanced early this season, but have four ball carriers averaging more than 11 yards per rush. To keep things interesting, the Rams need to be very assignment sound on defense, very protective of the ball on offense and very creative with their speedy ball carriers.

Steamboat and Soroco cross country

Saturday: Steamboat at Eagle Valley


The Sailors girls team has fared well at a pair of big Front Range meets, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up with more regional competition.

Peter Myller, the boys’ top runner, shaved a minute off his previous best last week. It may be tough to do that again on a hillier trail at elevation, but he could record another good race.

For Soroco, team leaders Ben Kelley and Chloe Veilleux are both young, a sophomore and a freshman respectively, but were both in the top 10 at their most recent race and could be again.

Steamboat volleyball

7 p.m. Friday: Steamboat (6-1) at Palisade (6-2)


Things are going to get interesting quickly for the Steamboat volleyball team. The squad starts league play with a trip Friday to Palisade, a snake pit in which the Sailors sustained a costly late-season bite last year.

Steamboat has big-time aspirations for the year, and since that Montrose match, it’s looked capable of realizing them. It’ll have to win tough matches on the road to make that happen, however, starting Friday.

Steamboat tennis

Friday and Saturday: Steamboat at Longmont


The Sailors came away from their first home action of the season thrilled after defeating regional rival Aspen and Vail Mountain, but another big test awaits this weekend.

Steamboat travels to Longmont for two days of tennis that will account for some of its toughest matches of the regular season as it faces off against Front Range teams. That kind of experience could be key late in the season.

Hayden volleyball

7 p.m. Thursday: Hayden (0-4) at West Grand (6-0)

1 p.m. Saturday: Hayden (0-4) at Vail Mountain (1-2)

It’s been a rough start to the season for the Tigers, and things may not improve Thursday, when the team tangles with undefeated West Grand.

Either way, Hayden’s best chance to start a turnaround comes Saturday, with a trip to play at Vail Mountain. The Gore Rangers may have the best nickname in the league, but they don’t have the best volleyball team so far this season, falling 3-0 to both North Park and Soroco.

The Tigers improved last year as the season went along. This is a chance to show similar progress.

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9