HIGHLANDS RANCH | Regis Jesuit and Eaglecrest played the most competitive match of Saturday’s Class 5A Region 1 tournament, as the two Aurora-area qualifiers battled through five sets at Valor Christian High School.
The 24th-seeded Raiders ended up rallying for a 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory over the 36th-seeded Raptors, but both teams also had to play host and undefeated Valor Christian, the No. 1 overall seed and last season’s 5A state champion.
The Eagles earned the chance to defend their state title with victories over Eaglecrest (25-14, 25-12, 27-25) in the opener and over Regis Jesuit (25-15, 25-12, 25-11) in the final match, which spelled the end of the season for the Raptors and Raiders.
In between, the two local teams had a fantastic battle that came down to the wire.
Coach Morgan Garrow’s Eaglecrest team — which was thrilled to get a chance to compete in regionals after a strong performance in the final week of the regular season bumped it into the final qualifying spot — took the momentum from an extended third set against Valor Christian into the Regis Jesuit match.
The Raptors (8-17) played well at the net and earned two wins in the first three sets, but coach Kait Kozak’s Raiders dug in behind the duo of senior Peyton Kreutzer and junior Sophia Capra. Both hit the 20-kill mark for the match (Kreutzer had 21) as the match eventually tipped in Regis Jesuit’s favor in the key junctures of the last two sets. Sophomore setter Lucy Tricco finished with 46 assists in the lengthy match.
Three Raptors reached double digits in kills in seniors Hannah Brinkman and Elexys Erly with 19 and 13, respectively, while junior Jada Bobb added 10. Senior Alysse Marcoso was credited with 34 digs along with six service aces.
Regis Jesuit’s victory made it a winner-take-all final match against Valor Christian, but the Eagles were not be denied on their home floor. Kreutzer had seven kills and Capra six, while Tricco had 19 assists for the Raiders (12-13) in their final match.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2023 CLASS 5A REGION 1 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Nov. 4 at Valor Christian High School
Valor Christian def. Eaglecrest 25-14, 25-12, 27-25
Eaglecrest kills: Anayah Rucker 6, Jada Bobb 3, Hannah Brinkman 3, Elexys Erly 3. Eaglecrest aces: Alysse Marcoso 2. Eaglecrest blocks: Jada Bobb 7, Hannah Brinkman 3. Eaglecrest digs: Alysse Marcoso 16, Anayah Rucker 5, Addie Schmitt 5.
Regis Jesuit def. Eaglecrest 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12
Eaglecrest kills: Hannah Brinkman 19, Elexys Erly 13, Jada Bobb 10, Anayah Rucker 8. Regis Jesuit kills: Peyton Kreutzer 21, Sophia Capra 20, Madelyn Hannam 6, Lucy Tricco 6. Eaglecrest aces: Alysse Marcoso 6. Eaglecrest blocks: Jada Bobb 7, Elexys Erly 6, Leslye Mancera 6. Regis Jesuit blocks: Caity Ryan 6, Lucy Tricco 6, Sam Smith 5. Eaglecrest digs: Alysse Marcoso 34, Fernanda Sanchez 23, Elexys Erly 22, Katie Reed 13, Addie Schmitt 13. Regis Jesuit digs: Ava Singer 10, Ella Savoca 8, Sophia Capra 7. Regis Jesuit assists: Lucy Tricco 46
Valor Christian def. Regis Jesuit 25-15, 25-12, 25-11
Regis Jesuit kills: Peyton Kreutzer 7, Sophia Capra 6, Madelyn Hannam 3. Regis Jesuit aces: Madelyn Hannam, Peyton Kreutzer. Regis Jesuit digs: Lucy Tricco 5, Peyton Kreutzer 2, Ella Savoca 2, Ava Singer 2. Regis Jesuit assists: Lucy Tricco 19
