AURORA | The proof is in the numbers, Centennial League volleyball is the best around.
Five Centennial League teams — including three from Aurora in Grandview, Eaglecrest and Cherokee Trail — earned their way into the 12-team field for the Nov. 8-9 Class 5A state volleyball tournaments by winning regionals Saturday.
Joined by Arapahoe and Cherry Creek, the Wolves, Raptors and Cougars made sure the league will be well represented in the quest for this season’s state championship.
Coach Patty Childress’ top-seeded Grandview team had little difficulty with either Dakota Ridge or Heritage in the Region 1 tournament, as the Wolves posted a pair of sweeps to move into the 5A state tournament for the 13th consecutive season.
Seventh-seeded Eaglecrest also defended its home floor with relative ease, as the Raptors swept Bear Creek and Loveland to punch their state ticket.
Cherokee Trail earned its second straight trip to state with a mild upset, as the 14th-seeded Cougars took down host and 11th-seeded Highlands Ranch in four sets to earn their way back to the Denver Coliseum.
Not among the state qualifiers was Regis Jesuit. The fourth-seeded Raiders got knocked off by No. 21 Castle View in four sets in Region 4 play, which also included Rangeview, which finished 0-2.
Gateway lost three-set matches against Cherry Creek and Chaparral at the Region 6 tournament.
Besides the five Centennial League teams, the 5A state tournament field also includes Fossil Ridge, Mountain Vista, Fruita Monument, Doherty, Castle View, Rampart and Pine Creek.
Tournament pool seeding is due out Sunday.
2013 Class 5A Volleyball regionals (Nov. 2)
Region 1 (at Grandview)
GRANDVIEW def. Dakota Ridge 25-10, 25-10, 25-17; GRANDVIEW def. Heritage 25-10, 25-16, 25-20 (GRANDVIEW advances to state tournament)
Region 4 (at Regis Jesuit G.D.)
REGIS JESUIT def. RANGEVIEW 25-12, 25-18, 25-20; Castle View def. RANGEVIEW; Castle View def. REGIS JESUIT 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 (Castle View advances to state tournament)
Region 6 (at Cherry Creek)
Cherry Creek def. GATEWAY 25-16, 25-9, 25-16; Chaparral def. GATEWAY 29-27, 25-18, 25-14; Cherry Creek def. Chaparral 25-21, 25-15, 25-22 (Cherry Creek advances to state tournament)
Region 7 (at Eaglecrest)
EAGLECREST def. Bear Creek 25-10, 25-22, 25-19; Bear Creek def. Loveland 3-2; EAGLECREST def. Loveland 25-8, 25-23, 25-20 (EAGLECREST advances to state tournament)
Region 11 (at Highlands Ranch)
Highlands Ranch def. Denver East 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22; CHEROKEE TRAIL def. Denver East 25-22, 25-20, 25-19; CHEROKEE TRAIL def. Highlands Ranch 22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 28-26 (CHEROKEE TRAIL advances to state tournament)
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel.
