HIGHLANDS RANCH | Though it didn’t qualify for the state tournament, the Grandview boys volleyball team ended its season with a victory Saturday in the Region 3 tournament.
Host and third-seeded Valor Christian claimed the region’s berth in the May 11-13 state tournament at Overland High School, but the Wolves split two matches and finished their campaign off with a five-set victory over No. 14 Fountain-Fort Carson.
Coach Scott Nugent’s Grandview team dropped its first match of the day against the Eagles (25-15, 25-19, 25-20) in a contest between teams that faced off earlier in Centennial League play, then took on the Trojans for the first time.
The Wolves won the first two sets, dropped the next two and then won comfortably in the fifth and decisive frame for a 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 20-25, 15-7 victory.
Grandview — which placed fifth in the Centennial League Challenge — won for the fifth time in its final six matches to finish the season 14-11. The Wolves more than doubled their win total from a 6-16 2022 campaign.
Senior setter Nathan Bidlingmaier graduates, but Grandview expects to have back nearly its entire offense from the season, including kills leader Nick Safray, a sophomore outside hitter, along with junior middle Alex Riddick and others.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
REGION 3 (May 6 at Valor Christian H.S.)
No. 3 Valor Christian def. NO. 22 GRANDVIEW 25-15, 25-19, 25-20; NO. 22 GRANDVIEW def. No. 14 Fountain-Fort Carson 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 20-25, 15-7; No. 3 Valor Christian def. No. 14 Fountain-Fort Carson 25-16, 25-14, 25-13 (No. 3 Valor Christian advances to the state tournament)