The volleyball programs at Niwot and Erie are off to strong starts this season. They’ll meet up Thursday night.

The CHSAA-ranked 5A No. 21 Cougars have reached the 4A state tournament the past two years and have started their first year in the state’s biggest classification 4-2, falling only to 3A No. 4 Eaton and 4A No. 28 Cheyenne Mountain. The 5A No. 27 Tigers are 3-1.

Each week through the regular season, BoCoPreps will highlight five games or events to keep an eye on. During the week of Sept. 9, we’ll take a look at volleyball, football, soccer and cross country.

Erie at Niwot volleyball, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

The Cougars are led by senior Jade West’s 30 kills and 11 blocks. You might know the name Jade West because she has won three state titles in track and field, winning shot put twice and discus once.

The Tigers have gotten a nice start from Sutton Sales, who has 52 kills, and Tegan Cerveny, who has 45 kills and seven aces.

Silver Creek at Fairview soccer, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

After playing to a draw a year ago, the 5A No. 12 Knights (2-1-1) enter this game with two straight wins — beating No. 20 Rocky Mountain and No. 28 Ralston Valley. Senior Ben Ortman has seven goals, second-most in 5A.

For the 4A No. 5 Raptors (3-1), seniors Levi Levin and Dylan Valenzuela each have three goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Cooper Preston has 28 saves.

Boulder at Fairview football, Friday, 5:30 p.m. at Christian Recht Field

Fairview has won 17 of the past 18 meetings dating back to 2005. The Panthers’ lone win in that span came in 2007.

Henry Sharpe has been solid at quarterback for Boulder (1-1), which snapped a 20-game losing streak with a 28-14 win over Silver Creek last weekend.

Fairview’s (2-0) rushing attack has 637 yards on just 78 carries through the first two weeks. Junior Toray Davis has 206 yards and two scores on the ground.

Longmont at Silver Creek football, Friday, 7 p.m. at Everly-Montgomery Field

Longmont has won eight of the past nine meetings against the Raptors, including six in a row dating back to 2016.

Avery Amaya has played well for the injured Kolby Holmes at quarterback, completing 30 of his 47 passes for 260 yards and a score.

Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational; first race starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Heritage High School

Local teams at the event include Boulder, Erie, Frederick, Mead, Prospect Ridge Academy and Silver Creek, per MileSplit’s registration records.

Out of those schools, Silver Creek’s Cloe Ruth currently has the 16th-fastest girls’ 5K time this season at 18 minutes at 12.90 seconds. She ran that at the Cherry Creek Steve Lohman Invitational last weekend.

Boulder’s Lucas Wik currently has the 33rd-fastest boys’ time as he ran 15:57.40 at the Washington Park Invitational in August.