Berthoud needed its best game to deny Durango a trip to the state tournament.

The No. 8 Spartans beat the No. 17 Demons 3-1 (25-15, 25-23, 25-27, 25-10) in the Class 4A Region 8 finale Saturday in Berthoud to earn a trip to the Denver Coliseum next weekend.

Senior setter Logan Clark led DHS with 22 assists and three aces, Sarah Lawton had 25 digs, and Hailey Warren had 14 digs.

“They’re a good team, and they’ll do well at state. We made Berthoud play their best game,” DHS head coach Colleen Keresey said. “They were very athletic all the way around, kind of like a Montrose. They just kept the ball alive and made some incredible hustle plays.”

Durango (14-10) could have made it to state with a win over Berthoud after beating No. 29 Mesa Ridge 3-2 (25-17, 14-25, 17-25, 25-15, 15-11) in the day’s second match.

Clark again led the team in assists with 36. DHS junior Maddie Robertson had nine kills, and Sarah Waller had eight for the Demons. Lia Henriksen had four blocks.

“They were a difficult team to play with their size in the middle,” Keresey said. “We struggled during times of that game, but it was just really fun to see them outplay and outwork Mesa Ridge and end up taking it in five.”

DHS improved on its regional performance from the previous season, picking up a win after going 0-2 last year.

The Demons will return Robertson, their leading attacker, and six other juniors but lose four seniors from the group.

“I think we are going in that positive direction. We had four great senior leaders this year who challenged our underclassmen and a lot of new kids and juniors playing on the court,” Keresey said. “I think our leadership was excellent. I think it leaves the returners hungry for more.”

heraldsports@ durangoherald.com