Friday matches at the state volleyball tournament have concluded and while several teams have already qualified for a trip to the semifinals, many other spots remain open. Each class has four more matches of pool play left on Saturday and some of those contests will factor into semifinal pairings. We provide the breakdown.
CLASS 1A
Three of the four semifinal berths have been gobbled up by the top three seeds, Kit Carson, Fleming and La Veta. The fourth will be determined with the first match on Saturday between Otis and Holly. The winner of that match will challenge Kit Carson in the first semifinal of the afternoon. The second semifinal pits defending state champion Fleming against La Veta.
CLASS 2A
Top seed Yuma is the only team to qualify for the semifinals on Friday. The winner between Meeker/Simla will capture the Pool B championship. Two other teams control their semifinal destiny. Denver Christian is in as the Pool D champion if they beat Fowler and Lyons also advances in Pool C if they get by Wiggins. If Fowler or Wiggins (or both) win, then each pool ends in a three-way tie and tiebreakers will be needed to determine which team moves on.
Yuma will face Denver Christian if the Thunder advance and the Meeker/Simla winner gets Lyons if the Lions also advance.
CLASS 3A
All four semifinal berths were decided on Friday. Four-time defending state champion will lead off the semifinals against Patriot rival University. The second semifinal is also a conference rematch as #2 Lutheran meets #3 Faith Christian.
CLASS 4A
Semifinal pairings are determined as the top four seeds all collected two wins on Friday. Defending state champion Lewis Palmer will be challenged by #4 Niwot and #2 Valor Christian faces #3 Holy Family.
CLASS 5A
#4 Chaparral is the only club to reach the semifinals as the Wolverines collected two wins. They are the Pool D champions. Cherry Creek is the Pool A champion if they get by Rocky Mountain and Denver East is the Pool B winner if they knock off Chatfield. Again in either case, if Rocky Mountain or Chatfield (or both) get the win, then the pool ends in a three-way tie. Pool C goes to Rock Canyon if they beat Coronado. If the Cougars win, it creates a three-way tie with Castle View.
TIEBREAKERS
If all three teams end with records of 1-1, two one-game tiebreakers will be played to decide which team moves to the semifinals. Through total points and sets won, one team is awarded a bye. The other clubs play one game to 25 and the survivor advances to meet the third team. The winner of the second match in each pool advances to the semifinals.
Follow the progress of each match all through Saturday in our Scoreboard page and inside each classification as we update brackets as they go final. Our Scoreboard page will have updates as each set concludes.