The Bayfield High School volleyball team gave itself a chance to qualify for the upcoming Class 3A state volleyball tournament in the regional round on Saturday, but it couldn’t take the down the defending state champions from University.
University, the No. 6 seed and Class 3A Region VI hosts, started the tournament by beating No. 31 Rifle, 3-1.
Bayfield, the tournament’s No. 19 seed, then beat Rifle 3-1 in region’s second game to set up a championship clash against University.
University, however, won a tight first set, 27-25, and then won the next two sets, 25-16 and 25-16, to earn a return trip to state and a chance to defend its title.
The loss ends Bayfield’s season with a 12-12 overall record. Rifle finishes 13-12 while University improved to 20-5. At state, No. 6 University will play No. 11 Liberty Common (Fort Collins) in the first round. Alamosa also won its region and will play No. 12 Manitou Springs while No. 7 Centauri will face No. 10 Delta.
