Weld County and northern Colorado have long been a hotbed for high school girls volleyball.
Local teams routinely advance to the final rounds of state tournaments in November, and local champions are crowned with regularity.
Most of those top contenders feature effective offenses anchored by precise setters, potent attackers — outside hitters, right-side hitters or middle blockers — or both.
Here is a look at five local setters and five local attackers to keep an eye during this fall’s girls volleyball season:
Alarcon held the reins of a rising Fort Lupton program for the second consecutive year, recording a team-high 382 assists with just 22 ball-handling errors a year ago.
She also had 29 aces and 249 digs.
The Bluedevils went 15-10 and won the 4A/3A/2A Frontier League title with a 9-1 mark.
Alarcon and her Fort Lupton squad will try to continue to make strides as they open their season with a home match against Strasburg at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21.
The highly athletic Bailey was an all-around force a year ago for a Roosevelt team that went 17-8.
Bailey recorded a team-high 601 assists with just six ball-handling errors on the season. She also was second on the team in kills (154), aces (69) and digs (270).
Bailey and her Rough Riders squad open their season on the road against Northridge at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Mayes was a freshman sensation a year ago for a Cougars squad that went 25-6 and was a 3A state tournament semifinalist.
She led the team in assists with 1,021, committing just 12 ball-handling errors. She also was second on the team in aces (52) and in digs (285).
Resurrection Christian opens its season at home against Liberty Common at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Salberg spearheaded a strong Eaton attack with a team-high 494 assists as a junior a year ago, while splitting setting duties with fellow junior Lila DeJager.
Salberg had just 25 ball-handling errors. She also was fourth on the team in digs with 107.
The Reds were one of 3A’s top teams, going 25-3 and advancing to the state tournament’s semifinals.
Eaton opens its season with a marquee home matchup at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 against Windsor.
Zink had a strong sophomore campaign a season ago for a Severance squad that went 15-10.
She led the Silver Knights in assists (600), while being second on the team in aces (43) and blocks (28).
Severance opens its season at home against Northridge at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Lauer was perhaps one of the top freshmen in the state a year ago, leading a strong Bulldogs team in kills (342) with a 43.5% kill percentage. Lauer, a 6-footer, also had 29 total blocks.
University went 19-9 and qualified for the 4A state tournament.
With Lauer just beginning to realize her vast potential, the Bulldogs open their season with a home match against Elizabeth at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21.
Windsor, a perennial contender, came into the season a year ago with some voids to fill, and Nothdurft stepped up effectively as the Wizards’ new No. 1 attacking option.
She led the team in kills (320) with a 33.8% kill percentage. She was also second on the team in aces (47).
This fall, Nothdurft, a 6-footer, will look to continue to establish herself as a premiere attacker for a Windsor team that went 21-10 and was a 4A state semifinalist a year ago.
The Wizards open at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 on the road against fellow local power Eaton.
Pardue led a rock-solid Cougars squad in kills a year ago, recording 364 with a highly impressive 46.8% kill percentage.
She also led Resurrection Christian in aces (56) and blocks (94). The Cougars went 25-6 and were a 3A state semifinalist.
With designs on again being one of the top contenders in 3A, Pardue and her Resurrection Christian squad open their season at home against Liberty Common at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Smith was quite effective a year ago as Eaton’s No. 2 option on offense behind then-senior standout Annabelle DeJager.
Smith had 296 kills with just 89 errors and a 44.2% kill percentage. She also led the Reds in aces with 62.
Smith should be primed to take on an even bigger role within Eaton’s offense this fall.
The Reds open their season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 in a home match against fellow local contender Windsor.
Teele will again lead the charge for Dayspring after being the Eagles’ leading attacker a year ago with 254 kills and a 38% kill percentage.
She was also the team leader in total blocks with 42, including 27 solo blocks. She showcased her versatility with 230 digs, the second most on the team.
Dayspring went 15-10, including a 10-3 mark in the 2A/1A Mile High League.
Teele will look to lead the Eagles to even greater heights, as they open their season at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 on the road against Windsor Charter Academy.
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