Volleyball: Eaglecrest, Grandview again in same pool at state tournament; Cherokee Trail makes 5A debut

AURORA | The Class 5A state volleyball team has a new look in 2012, but it will be just like old times for Eaglecrest and Grandview.

The Raptors and Wolves slug it out in Centennial League play every year, but the neighborhood rivals take it to a new level at the 5A state tournament, where they regularly run into each other in the semifinals or championship matches.

The stakes will be high when the teams meet again in the 2012 tournament, as they both ended up in the same three-team pool in pairings released Monday by the Colorado High School Activities Association. Second-seeded Eaglecrest (21-3) and No. 7 Grandview (19-6) make up Pool II along with No. 11 Heritage (18-7). The Aurora teams were also in the same state pool last season.

Coach Tanya Bond’s Eaglecrest team owns a 2-0 edge on Grandview and coach Patty Childress this season so far, as the Raptors won 2-1 in the championship match of the Eaglecrest Invitational on Sept. 15 and swept the Wolves in three sets in the league matchup on Oct. 19. Grandview took both meetings last season, including a pool play victory that helped them advance to the state title match.

Neither team has faced Heritage yet this season.

Meanwhile, Cherokee Trail’s second all-time trip to the state tournament — and first at the 5A level — sees coach Terry Miller’s sixth-seeded Cougars (19-6) fighting it out with No. 3 Chaparral (21-4) and No. 10 Legend (18-6) in Pool III to get to the semifinals.

Miller’s team went 0-3 in pool play in its 4A state appearance in 2007, but two wins this time would put Cherokee Trail in the semifinals with a possible matchup against Eaglecrest or Grandview.

The Cougars are 0-3 against the Raptors this season — but lost twice in five sets — and also fell in five in their only matchup with the Wolves.

The state seedings weren’t a surprise, as all 12 regional host teams advanced and retained the seeds they held going into those tournaments.

The best news for all three Aurora teams with aspirations of playing for the state championship — they wouldn’t have to face undefeated and top-seeded Doherty until Saturday 7 p.m. final if they get that far.

The 25-0 Spartans — who swept Grandview in the opening match of the season — heads Pool I along with No. 8 Highlands Ranch (19-6) and No. 12 Chatfield (19-6), while Pool IV is comprised of No. 4 Cherry Creek (20-5), No. 5 Mountain Vista (20-5) and No. 9 Lakewood (18-7).

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

2012 CLASS 5A STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

At Denver Coliseum

Pool 1: No. 1 Doherty (25-0), No. 8 Highlands Ranch (19-6), No. 12 Chatfield (19-6); Pool II: NO. 2 EAGLECREST (21-3), NO. 7 GRANDVIEW (19-6), No. 11 Heritage (18-7); Pool III: No. 3 Chaparral (21-4), NO. 6 CHEROKEE TRAIL (19-6), No. 10 Legend (18-6); Pool IV: No. 4 Cherry Creek (20-5), No. 5 Mountain Vista (20-5), No. 9 Lakewood (18-7)

Friday, Nov. 2 (pool play)

Match 1: No. 8 Highlands Ranch vs. No. 12 Chatfield, 8 a.m.; Match 2: No. 9 Lakewood vs. No. 5 Mountain Vista (immed. following); Match 3: No. 12 Chatfield vs. No. 1 Doherty (immed. following); Match 4: No. 9 Lakewood vs. No. 4 Cherry Creek (immed. following); Match 5: No. 11 Heritage vs. NO. 2 EAGLECREST (immed. following); Match 6: No. 10 Legend vs. No. 3 Chaparral (immed. following); Match 7: No. 11 Heritage vs. NO. 7 GRANDVIEW (immed. following); Match 8: No. 10 Legend vs. NO. 6 CHEROKEE TRAIL (immed. following)

Saturday, Nov. 3 (pool play)

Match 1: No. 5 Mountain Vista vs. No. 4 Cherry Creek, 8 a.m.; Match 2: No. 8 Highlands Ranch vs. No. 1 Doherty (immed. following); Match 3: NO. 6 CHEROKEE TRAIL vs. No. 3 Chaparral (immed. following); Match 4: NO. 7 GRANDVIEW vs. NO. 2 EAGLECREST (immed. following)

Semifinals

Match 5: Pool I No. 1 vs. Pool IV No. 1 (immed. following pool play); Match 6: Pool II No. 1 vs. Pool III No. 1 (immed. following)

Championship

Match 7: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.