DENVER | Aurora’s three teams only played one match each on the first day of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament, but they were each significant.
Seventh-seeded Grandview has better position than No. 2 Eaglecrest and No. 6 Cherokee Trail after Friday’s round of pool play at the Denver Coliseum, posting the lone win of the city trio and putting itself in position to earn a spot in the semifinals with another victory.
After a long wait to finally get on the court, the Wolves — who lost in the 5A final in 2011 — outlasted No. 11 Heritage 25-10, 20-25, 23-25, 28-26, 15-10, which upset the Raptors in its first match, and took the lead atop Pool II going into Saturday’s concluding pool play matches, which will decide the final four teams who will play off for the state championship at 7 pm.
Standing in the way of Grandview’s trip to the semifinals is Eaglecrest, which swept both matches between the rivals this season. With star outside hitter Taylor Loyd going down with a knee injury, the Raptors didn’t have quite enough firepower to get past Heritage, which prevailed in the decisive fifth set to post a 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 15-9 victory.
The Eagles could have clinched the semifinal spot out of Pool II with a victory over the Wolves, but they pulled even by winning the crucial fourth set and went on to win the fifth.
Cherokee Trail won the first set of its 5A state tournament debut against a 10th-seeded Legend team that was laying shortly after a five-set loss to No. 3 Chaparral. The Cougars couldn’t sustain the fast start, however, as the Titans won three tight sets for a 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 victory.
With a victory over Chaparral in pool play on Saturday, Cherokee Trail could force a three-way tie for first place in the pool.
Top-seeded Doherty leads Pool I at 1-0, the same mark as No. 3 Chaparral in Pool III and No. 4 Cherry Creek in Pool IV.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2012 CLASS 5A STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
At Denver Coliseum
FRIDAY (POOL PLAY)
Match 1: No. 12 Chatfield def. No. 8 Highlands Ranch 25-14, 25-18, 22-25, 25-22; Match 2: No. 9 Lakewood def. No. 5 Mountain Vista 25-20, 25-20, 25-23; Match 3: No. 1 Doherty def. No. 12 Chatfield 25-18. 25-16, 25-21; Match 4: No. 4 Cherry Creek def. No. 9 Lakewood 25-22, 25-13, 25-19; Match 5: No. 11 Heritage def. NO. 2 EAGLECREST 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 15-9; Match 6: No. 3 Chaparral def. No. 10 Legend 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12; Match 7: NO. 7 GRANDVIEW def. No. 11 Heritage 25-10, 20-25, 23-25, 28-26, 15-10; Match 8: No. 10 Legend def. NO. 6 CHEROKEE TRAIL 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22
Pool I: No. 1 Doherty (1-0), No. 8 Highlands Ranch (0-1), No. 12 Chatfield (1-1); Pool II: NO. 2 EAGLECREST (0-1), NO. 7 GRANDVIEW (1-0), No. 11 Heritage (1-1); Pool III: No. 3 Chaparral (1-0), NO. 6 CHEROKEE TRAIL (0-1), No. 10 Legend (1-1); Pool IV: No. 4 Cherry Creek (1-0), No. 5 Mountain Vista (0-1), No. 9 Lakewood (1-1)
SATURDAY
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 (immediately following pool play)
Match 5: Pool I No. 1 vs. Pool IV No. 1; Match 6: Pool II No. 1 vs. Pool II No. 2
Match 7 (Championship): Semifinals winners, 7 p.m.
