DENVER | The Grandview girls volleyball team did something Thursday that one only other team has been able to do this season against top-ranked Valor Christian — win a set.
Coach Rob Graham’s Wolves snapped the Eagles’ 45-set winning streak that stretches back to Sept. 7 against Legend — when they lost two — with an epic 32-30 win in the opening set of a Class 5A state championship bracket match at the Denver Coliseum.
But defending state champion and undefeated Valor Christian weathered the storm from senior Emerson Deferme and Grandview to capture the next three sets for a 30-32, 25-20, 25-17 to advance in the championship bracket. The Wolves, meanwhile, drop into the contenders side of the bracket and will face an elimination match Friday morning.
It was the first set taken from the Eagles — who are currently on a 55-match winning streak — since they dropped two in one match to Legend back on Sept. 7. Valor Christian had won 45 sets in row.
But the Eagles took back the next three, overcoming a quality start by the Wolves in the second set and gradually widening the gap.
The Wolves could see Valor Christian again, but it will take three victories on the backside of the bracket before they could come together again in the crossover semifinals Saturday.
Grandview opened the day with a five-set victory over Pueblo West that came all the way down to the final two points.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports