AURORA | Down a set in its most crucial match of the season thus far, Harry Hendon and the Cherokee Trail girls volleyball team didn’t panic.
The Cougars had faced their fair share of adversity in matches through the year and so facing a deficit to Douglas County — which came out on fire — in the Class 5A Region 11 championship match with a state berth on the line didn’t phase them.
With a diverse offensive attack that saw six players come up with at least a handful of kills, Hendon’s 11th-seeded came all the way back for a 17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 victory over the 14th-seeded Huskies to earn a spot in the Nov. 11-12 5A girls state volleyball tournament at the Denver Coliseum.
Senior Sanaa Grant racked up 11 kills, while junior Gwen Mitchell and sophomore Kassie Cooley registered seven apiece for Cherokee Trail, which improved to 17-8.
With a loss by fourth-seeded Legend the previous day, the Cougars will move up at least one position in seedings for the state tournament, which returns to the Denver Coliseum after two seasons at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.
Cherokee Trail opened regional play with a 25-17, 25-12, 25-7 victory over Loveland in an effort that was fueled by Grant and fellow senior Kacie Young, who had 10 kills apiece. Senior Zoe Ackerman racked up 21 assists in the victory.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2022 CLASS 5A REGION 11 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Nov. 5 at Cherokee Trail H.S.
Matches: NO. 11 CHEROKEE TRAIL def. No. 26 Loveland 25-17, 25-12, 25-7; No. 14 Douglas County def. No. 26 Loveland 3-0; NO. 11 CHEROKEE TRAIL def. No. 14 Douglas County 17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 (NO. 11 CHEROKEE TRAIL qualifies for 5A state tournament)
Full Class 5A girls volleyball regional results, here