(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
DENVER — The Coronado Cougars suddenly have something to play for.
After dropping their first match in pool play to Chatfield, the biggest underdog in Class 5A appeared to be doomed. Until they got a much-needed assist from the Fairview Knights. In the sixth match of the day, the Knights did what the Cougars couldn’t quite do; they conquered the classification’s top seed.
“Physically, I think they had enough time to recharge,” Fairview coach Kelsey Spencer said. “I think mentally, it might’ve knocked (Chatfield) down a little bit to five with the 12 seed, but I saw the fight that I heard about throughout their season.”
Now Saturday’s clash between Coronado and Fairview carries implications for all three teams. A Fairview win means they advance to the semifinals. A Coronado win complicates matters and sends it to a tie-breaker.
But Spencer is hoping that her girls can come out and take care of business against the Cougars just like they did against the Chargers.
Depending on the outcome of the Knights’ match with Coronado, Pool I could see two tie-breaker matches. The two teams with the lowest set percentage will play one 25-point set with the winner playing the team with the highest set percentage won in another 25-point set. The last team standing will advance to the semifinals.
“You can’t walk out that and not have a confidence boost,” Spencer said. “But we’re coming out and not underestimating Coronado at all. They’re here for a reason.”
And the Cougars showed they belonged at state early as they took the first set from the Chargers 27-25. Chatfield would go on to win the next two sets, with Coronado taking the fourth to even up the match. Chatfield jumped out to an early lead in the fifth set and never gave it up.
It was a much different story against Fairview as the Knights got on a roll early and rode the wave of momentum to the upset win.
“In that first set, they came out and executed the game plan and we showed what we were made of,” Spencer said. “I was really confident that no matter what happened in the game, we were playing with heart.”
Tie-breaker format:
- The two pool teams with the lowest set percentage (number of sets won/total number of sets played) will play one 25-point set.
- The winner of the lone 25-point set will play the pool team with the highest set percentage in a single 25-point set with the winner advancing to semifinals.
Class 5A:
Cherokee Trail and Rock Canyon all advanced to Saturday’s semifinals. The 5A bracket proved to be the most exciting of the day with only one match ending in a sweep.
Grandview controls their own destiny after their four-set win over Chaparral in the final match of the night.
The rest of the 5A bracket will be decided with the conclusion of pool play Saturday morning.
Class 4A:
The potential for a state title match between Lewis-Palmer and Cheyenne Mountain is alive after both teams swept their way into the semifinals. Ponderosa also advanced to the Final 4.
The big surprise of the day was Montrose and Evergreen both defeating Holy Family, eliminating the No. 4 seed from the state tournament. The winner of Saturday’s match between the Indians and the Cougars will advance to the 4A semifinals.
Class 3A:
Eaton, CSCS and University all advanced to the semifinals with ease. That was not the case with Platte Valley, however. In 3A’s final match of the night, they were upset by Valley 3-2.
If Valley beats Pagosa Springs, the Vikings will advance to the 3A semifinals. If Pagosa wins, it will set up a tie-breaker for Pool III.
Class 2A:
There were no upsets in 2A as seeds Resurrection Christian, Yuma, Lyons and Paonia all advanced into the semis ahead of Saturday’s early matches which will conclude pool play.
Class 1A:
While Otis and Idalia have already advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, the results of Pool III and Pool IV aren’t as clear.
The winner of Weldon Valley vs. Sangre de Cristo will certainly advance in Pool IV while a potential tie-break situation looms depending on the outcome of Fleming vs. Prairie.