CENTENNIAL | The 25th annual Eaglecrest Invitational volleyball tournament begins Friday and ends Saturday, with the host Raptors and Centennial League rival Grandview representing the city in a field of 12 teams from multiple classifications.
Coach Tanya Bond’s Eaglecrest team, which won its own tournament for the first time since 2012 last season, is the No. 1 seed in Pool 2 and coach Patty Childress’ Grandview squad (third last season) is the No. 1 seed in Pool 3, which means both teams will play matches at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday.
The Raptors (1-3) open against 4A Pueblo South (1-6) and finish up by taking on Fossil Ridge (2-1), while the Wolves — the defending Class 5A state champions who are off to a 1-3 start as well — meet 3A Faith Christian (3-1) and Brighton (8-0).
Undefeated Cheyenne Mountain (4-0) from 4A heads Pool 1, while 6-0 Eaton (3A) tops Pool 4.
Results from the pool play matches on Friday determine the matchups for Saturday, which including the championship bracket for the pool winners, the Eagle Bracket for the four pool runners-up and the Falcon Bracket for the four third-place pool play teams.
Semifinals in all three brackets take play at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., followed by third-place matches at 11 a.m. and championship matches for each bracket at 1:30 p.m.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
25TH EAGLECREST VOLLEYBALL INVITATIONAL
Pool 1: 1. Cheyenne Mountain (4-0), 2. Denver East (7-2), 3. Legacy (0-3); Pool 2: 1. EAGLECREST (1-3), 2. Fossil Ridge (2-1), 3. Pueblo South (1-6); Pool 3: 1. GRANDVIEW (1-3), 2. Brighton (8-0), 3. Faith Christian (3-1); Pool 4: 1. Eaton (6-0), 2. Mountain Vista (4-1), 3. Pine Creek (1-3)
Pool play (Sept. 18)
4 p.m.: Cheyenne Mountain vs. Legacy; EAGLECREST vs. Pueblo South; GRANDVIEW vs. Faith Christian; Eaton vs. Pine Creek; 5:30 p.m.: Denver East vs. Legacy; Fossil Ridge vs. Pueblo South; Brighton vs. Faith Christian; Mountain Vista vs. Pine Creek; 7 p.m.: Cheyenne Mountain vs. Denver East; EAGLECREST vs. Fossil Ridge; GRANDVIEW vs. Brighton; Eaton vs. Mountain Vista
Bracket play (based on pool play finish) (Sept. 19)
8 a.m.: Championship bracket No. 1 vs. No. 4 (West Gym), Eagle Bracket No. 1 vs. No. 4 (East Gym, Court 1), Falcon Bracket No. 1 vs. No. 4 (East Gym, Court 2); 9:30 a.m.: Championship bracket No. 2 vs. No. 3 (West Gym), Eagle Bracket No. 2 vs. No. 3 (East Gym, Court 1), Falcon Bracket No. 2 vs. No. 3 (East Gym, Court 2); 11 a.m.: Championship bracket loser vs. loser (West Gym); Eagle Bracket loser vs. loser (East Gym, Court 1); Falcon Bracket loser vs. loser (East Gym, Court 2); 1:30 p.m.: Championship winner vs. winner (West Gym); Eagle Bracket winner vs. winner (East Gym, Court 1); Falcon Bracket winner vs. winner (East Gym, Court 2)
