DENVER | At least one Aurora team will have a shot at winning the Class 5A state volleyball championship after the completion of the first day of pool play at the Denver Coliseum.
Both second-seeded Grandview — the 2013 5A state champion — and third-seeded Regis Jesuit won both of their matches to win their respective pools and advance to Saturday’s semifinal round. As the winners of Pool II and Pool III, respectively, the Wolves and Raiders play each other for the right to advance to the 7 p.m. championship game.
No. 4 Rampart also grabbed the Pool IV spot in the semifinal round that is scheduled to follow the completion of four pool play matches that begin at 8 a.m.
Top-seeded Eaglecrest will need help to advance to the semifinals after the Raptors lost a 2-0 lead on No. 8 Cherry Creek in its second pool play match. Coach Tanya Bond’s team needs the Bruins to lose to No. 12 Chatfield to force a tie for the top spot in the pool.
Seventh-seeded Cherokee Trail came out with tons of energy against rival Grandview its only pool play match of the day, but dropped the first two games. True to form, however, the Cougars rallied to force a decisive fifth game, which the two teams had needed in each of their previous two meetings as well.
Cherokee Trail captured the winning game the first two times, but Grandview prevailed this time for a 25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 15-25, 15-7 victory that sealed the semifinal berth. The Cougars have a pool play match with No. 11 Highlands Ranch remaining Saturday.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
Class 5A state volleyball tournament (at Denver Coliseum)
Pool Play (Nov. 7)
Pool IV: No. 4 Rampart def. No. 9 Fairview 16-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-21
Pool I: NO. 1 EAGLECREST def. No. 12 Chatfield 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 25-17
Pool II: NO. 2 GRANDVIEW def. No. 11 Highlands Ranch 28-26, 25-18, 25-17
Pool III: NO. 3 REGIS JESUIT def. No. 10 Legend 23-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-20, 15-10
Pool IV: No. 4 Rampart def. No. 5 Chaparral 21-25, 25-20, 17-25, 26-24, 15-13
Pool I: No. 8 Cherry Creek def. NO. 1 EAGLECREST 14-25, 16-25, 25-17, 25-21, 16-14
Pool II: NO. 2 GRANDVIEW def. NO. 7 CHEROKEE TRAIL 25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 15-25, 15-7
Pool III: NO. 3 REGIS JESUIT def. No. 6 Pine Creek 16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20
Pool Play (Nov. 8)
Pool IV: No. 9 Fairview vs. No. 5 Chaparral, 8 a.m.
Pool I: No. 12 Chatfield vs. No. 8 Cherry Creek, immed. following
Pool II: No. 11 Highlands Ranch vs. NO. 7 CHEROKEE TRAIL, immed. following
Pool III: No. 10 Legend vs. No. 6 Pine Creek, immed. following
Semifinals (Nov. 8)
Pool 1 winner (Rampart) vs. Pool IV winner (TBD), immed. following
Pool 2 winner (GRANDVIEW) vs. Pool 3 winner (REGIS JESUIT), immed. following
Championship
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
