Second set heroics lift Moose to 3-0 win

Centauri’s Dynae Johnson (4) gets elevation to attack in front of Alamosa seniors Jordan Mobbley (3) and Emily DePriest (14) during Tuesday night’s league matchup. (Jiron/VC)

ALAMOSA — The previous meeting between these two teams took place less than a month ago at Centauri’s home Triangular. On that day, the Moose would take the morning brawl by a score of 3-2. On Tuesday night things weren’t nearly as complicated Alamosa blanked Centauri, 3-0, to complete the series sweep at two matches to none.

Alamosa (20-2) are well prepared for the end of the season and have created a four-game winning streak. The Moose have gained some notoriety for the powerful season they’ve put together thus far. Alamosa is ranked third in the state both by Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and by coaches’ poll on CHSAANow.com.

Centauri (9-7) to this point is still above .500 and ranked 14th place in the RPI standings. Even if they lose spots due to Tuesday’s result, they are well within range of earning a spot in a regional triangular come late Oct./early Nov.

Tuesday night the two squads were full of energy. They would play to a tie at 4-4 before Alamosa registered the first meaningful run adding four in a row to go up 8-4. The two teams traded sideouts raising the score proportionately until Centauri was able to close the distance to a two-point game trailing 18-16.  A two-point run for the Moose prompted a timeout from Centauri Coach Candace Shaw. It would work, the Falcons would break the momentum and force a sideout, but were unable to capitalize further. From there Alamosa would score the next 5 to seal the first set at 25-17.

The loss in set one lit a fire in the Falcons.

Set two opened with 5 straight points from the visitors. Following a timeout from the Mean Moose bench, the Falcons would add two more. A kill from Emily DePriest stopped the bleeding for Alamosa from a 7-point run from the Falcons. Centauri persisted, building their lead to 13-4.

From there the Moose locked down.

Direct attacks were stifled, tips over the front line were gobbled up and the Falcons were forced to subsist on sideouts.  Centauri’s next five points came transitionally. Meanwhile, the Moose made the most of their service; scoring 14 points in the same time frame tying the game at 18-18.

The Falcons would attempt to get the ball rolling once again with a three-point run but another flurry from the Moose gave Alamosa their first lead of the game at 23-21. A block error from the Falcons and a kill from Terese Chavez completed the second set comeback at 25-21.

Despite the 2-set deficit the Falcons refused to go away battling Alamosa to the final point in the final set, ultimately falling 25-23. The win extends Alamosa’s win streak to 5 games and puts a nice accent on Senior Night.

Alamosa will close the regular season this Saturday in a road match with Bayfield (12-4). The Moose are 1-0 against the Wolverines thanks to a 3-1 win earlier in the season. Centauri will also be working in the Intermountain League (IML), the Falcons will visit Pagosa Springs on Thursday.