Hayden football

2 p.m. Saturday: Hayden (0-2) at Justice (0-3)

The Tigers are hoping a change in competition will yield a big change in results. The team opened its season with two of the best teams in the state. Hayden wasn’t competitive in either.

Saturday, however, the squad heads out on the road to play Justice, 0-3 so far this season.

Coach Ryan Wilkie said the team is ready for the opportunity.

“We’re excited to play competition closer to our level,” Wilkie said. “You have to give our kids a lot of credit for being able to keep a positive attitude and keep working hard, despite our lack of success.”

Hayden Volleyball

2 p.m. Saturday: Hayden (0-7) at De Beque (1-5)

The Tigers haven’t won a match this season, but it hasn’t been an entirely fruitless run. Hayden won a game Tuesday night against Vail Mountain, but lost the match, 3-1. What’s been missing is piecing together strong enough stretches on one night to win that match.

Saturday’s trip to De Beque presents another fine opportunity to do just that. The Dragons have won only once this season, their first match of the year. Since then, they’ve been swept in five consecutive matches.

Soroco Volleyball

6 p.m. Friday: Soroco (6-2) at West Grand (7-1)

Soroco’s sterling start to the season hit a bump when it was swept last week by North Park, the best team it had seen so far. They’ll meet another of the region’s top-tier teams Friday in West Grand.

The first place to look to improve the team’s performance is inward. When the Rams fell behind North Park, they panicked, which, of course, only made their problems more pronounced. Communication and composure are the often-cited keys to volleyball success, and indeed, playing with those to elements could make all the difference for Soroco, which this season is harboring dreams bigger than middle-of-the-pack.

Soroco Cross Country

Friday: Soroco at Glenwood Springs

The Rams had another good showing last week in at meet at Gypsum Creek Golf Course. Ben Kelley was second overall, finishing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 40 seconds, and Chloe Veilleux was 15th on the girls side in 21:18.

The team showed well against the mostly larger schools it saw at the event, and it will have another chance to do the same thing Friday as it travels to Glenwood Springs. It’ll be interesting all season to see how the team’s top athletes fare in those fields, but it’s also important for the rest of the team to develop.

In Eagle Valley, Joshua Taing was 161st and Brad Veilleux 167th.

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