DENVER — Sangre de Cristo volleyball put together a strong year at the net just couldn’t muster what it took to defeat league rival La Veta at state.

Sangre de Cristo closed their season 19-8 having gone 9-1 through their league. Advancing to regionals, Sangre de Cristo took down both Nucla and Dove Creek to continue on to the state championship.

At state the Thunderbirds were pooled with Wiley and rival La Veta. As the final volleyball team from the valley left standing, a favorable outcome would mean a victory over both clubs for a 2-0 finish. Friday the Thunderbirds got off to an inauspicious start when they dropped their first scheduled contest against La Veta in 3 sets.

Later that night things went from bad to worse as La Veta defeated Wiley effectively rendering the Thunderbird’s Saturday matchup with Wiley null.

At 2-0 La Veta would be the team to compete in the semifinals. Sangre de Cristo still fought, relenting to Wiley a game in 3 sets. La Veta advanced to the semifinals where they too would fall, in a 3-0 match to Fleming. Fleming could not repeat history and fell to Kit Carson at the 1A Volleyball State  Championship 3-0.

Note: This article now shows the correct finish to the 1A Volleyball State Championship