ALAMOSA – The 2024 Colorado High School Activities Association’s state volleyball tournaments kicked off Thursday at the Denver Coliseum with five teams from the San Luis Valley in action.

Class 3A

In the Class 3A Bracket, 12th-seeded Centauri recorded a win over Gunnison, the fifth seed. The Cowboys won the first set 25-15, but the Lady Falcons won the next three by scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-19.

With the win, Centauri advanced to the second round where it faced fourth-seeded Alamosa. The Lady Mean Moose drew a first-round bye.

It was another classic match between the Lady Mean Moose and Lady Falcons with Alamosa winning in four sets.

Centauri took a 5-2 lead to open the first set, but Alamosa came back to close within 8-7. The Lady Falcons pushed the lead to 10-7, but the Lady Moose tied the score at 10-10.

The teams traded side outs before Centauri took a 14-12 lead. Alamosa then took a 19-15 lead, but the Lady Falcons narrowed the deficit to 23-22.

The Lady Moose scored the final two points for a 25-22 win.

Alamosa opened the second set with a 6-1 advantage, but Centauri closed to within 9-7. The Lady Moose increased the lead to 20-14, but the Lady Falcons came roaring back to narrow the lead to 24-23. Centauri scored the four of the final five points for a 27-25 win.

Alamosa took a 4-0 lead to begin the third set and the lead grew to 18-11. But once again, Centauri made a comeback and closed to within 24-21. The Lady Moose scored the final point for a 25-21 win.

The Lady Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the fourth set, but the Lady Moose went in front at 5-2. Centauri regained the lead at 8-7, but Alamosa took back the lead to 15-11.

The Lady Falcons again made a comeback and narrowed the deficit to 16-15. But the Lady Moose finished strong by scoring nine of the final 12 points for a 25-18 win.

Aubrey Rothermich led Alamosa with 19 kills, followed by Laci Christensen with nine.

Mikasa Gilleland led Centauri with 10 kills.

Alamosa (22-4) advances to the third round where it will face top-seeded Eaton at 2 p.m.

Centauri (11-16) drops into the contenders bracket and it will face another Intermountain League team in 11th-seeded Bayfield at 8 a.m.

Class 2A

Both SLV Class 2A teams were defeated in their first round matches.

Eighth-seeded Del Norte played in the first match and lost to ninth-seeded Haxtun. The Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Tigers in three sets – 25-21, 25-18 and 25-21.

Sanford, the 12th seed, played in the next match against fifth-seeded Colorado Springs Christian. The Lady Lions won the first two sets 25-11 and 25-23, but the Lady Mustangs won the third 25-23. CSCS wrapped up the victory with a 25-17 victory in the fourth set.

Del Norte (21-3) will play either second-seeded Sedgwick County or seventh-seeded Rye in the contenders bracket today at 11 a.m.

Sanford (17-9) will face the loser of the match between third-seeded Lyons and sixth-seeded Wiggins today at 12:30 p.m.

Class 1A

Ninth-seeded Sargent won its first round game but it had to five sets to defeat eighth-seeded Hi-Plains in the Class 1A tournament.

The Lady Patriots won the first set 25-14, but the Lady Farmers won the next two 25-15 and 25-21. Hi-Plains took the fourth set 25-12, but Sargent wrapped up the match with a 15-11 win in the fifth set.

Sargent advanced to the second round where it met top-seeded and four-time defending state champion Merino.

The Lady Rams proved their ranking as they defeated the Lady Farmers in three sets. The scores were 25-9, 25-11 and 25-10.

Sargent (23-3) drops into the contenders bracket and it will play 10th-seeded Cheraw today at 9:30 a.m.