LA JARA — The 10^th-ranked Centauri High School volleyball team took a pair of three-set sweeps on Friday, Nov. 3, as it hosted the Class 3A Region 10 Tournament at the CHS gym.

With the tournament win, the Lady Falcons qualify for the Class 3A State Tournament.

“We’re going up,” said Centauri coach Ali Miller. “We’re going to make some noise.”

Centauri defeated Sterling

The Lady Falcons opened the tournament against Sterling and won by scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-23.

Centauri got off to a fast start by scoring the first four points of the first set. It gradually built on the lead and had a large 17-6 advantage.

The Lady Tigers mounted a comeback effort as they closed to within a 22-17 deficit. But the Lady Falcons scored the final three points for a 25-17 win.

Sterling had a hot start in the second set as it took a 3-2 lead. But Centauri answered with a 7-1 run to take a 9-4 lead.

The Lady Tigers regained the momentum and went back in front at 18-16. They led 20-18 before the Lady Falcons finished the set on a 7-1 run for a 25-21 victory.

Centauri scored the first three points of the third set, but Sterling came back to take a 9-6 lead.

The Lady Falcons got the lead back at 14-13, but the Lady Tigers went on a 7-1 rally for a 21-16 advantage.

Centauri scored three points in a row to close within 21-19, but Sterling scored two consecutive points for a 23-19 edge.

The Lady Falcons finished strong as they scored the final six points to win the set and match 25-23.

Cameryn Wilfong led the Lady Falcons in assists with 23, followed by Saige Hostetter with 11.

Kailyn Polzin led the Centauri hitting game with 19 kills, followed by Hannah Curtis with 11 and Joselyn McCarroll with six.

Polzin also led in service aces with three, followed by Jaelyn Jackson with two.

Sterling defeated Salida

In the second match of the tournament, Sterling scored a three-set sweep of Salida.

The Lady Tigers won by scores of 25-13, 25-14 and 25-15.

Centauri defeated Salida

In the final match of the tournament, the Lady Falcons swept Salida. The scores were 25-15, 25-14 and 25-15.

The Lady Spartans scored the first point of the first set, but the momentum quickly shifted to the Lady Falcons as they went on a 12-3 run to take a 12-4 advantage.

Centauri gradually increased the lead to 21-11, but Salida scored four consecutive points to close within 21-15.

The Lady Falcons had a strong finish as they scored the final four points for a 25-15 win.

The Lady Spartans got off to a fast start in the second set as they took a 7-4 lead. Centauri answered with an 8-1 run to take a 12-8 lead.

The Lady Falcons maintained the momentum as they finished with a 13-6 run for a 25-14 win.

Centauri started quickly in the third set as it roared to an 11-2 advantage.

The Lady Spartans scored three straight points to close within 11-5. But the Lady Falcons scored 14 of the final 24 points to win the set and match 25-15.

Wilfong again led in assists with 17, followed by Hostetter with 15.

Polzin was Centauri’s hitting leader again with 18 kills. Joselyn McCarroll was next with 10, and Curtis had eight.

Wilfong also led in service aces with three, followed by Polzin with two and Joselyn McCarroll with one.

Centauri takes an 18-6 record to the state tournament which will begin on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Denver Coliseum. Miller knows that the competition will be tough but says that the Lady Falcons are ready.

“We’re ready for them, because we’re a tough opponent too,” Miller said.

The state tournament brackets will be released early next week.

Sangre’s season comes to an end

The Sangre de Cristo High School volleyball team saw its season end on Friday as it lost to McClave in three sets in McClave.

The scores were 25-7, 25-8 and 25-17.

The Lady Thunderbirds ended the season with 14 wins and 10 losses.