Rams, Hawks, Eagles sweep in bracket play
Academy advances to quarterfinals in 5A
RIO RANCHO — Cleveland, Volcano Vista, Eldorado and Rio Rancho emerged Thursday night as winners in the first round of bracket play at the Class 6A state volleyball tournament at the Santa Ana Star Center.
The Storm took out Clovis in three sets, the Hawks swept Atrisco Heritage, and the Eagles won in straight sets over Cibola in the first round. The only first-rounder that extended beyond three sets was the Rams and Piedra Vista. Rio Rancho won the fourth and fifth sets (15-9 in the final set) to advance.
Centennial, Las Cruces, Sandia and La Cueva earned byes into this afternoon’s quarterfinals.
The Bears will play Rio Rancho, the Matadors face Eldorado, the Lady Bulldawgs meet Volcano Vista and Centennial takes on Cleveland, all at 1:15 p.m. today at the Star Center.
The semifinals are 8:15 tonight, also at the Star Center. Sandia and La Cueva are in that half of the draw and are on yet another collision course. Those two already have played five times this season, with La Cueva winning the first, third and fifth meetings. CLASS 5A: Albuquerque Academy, with a four-set victory over Gallup on Thursday, was one of four, winners in the first round.
Roswell, Santa Teresa and Kirtland Central also advanced to this morning’s 9:45 quarterfinals at the Star Center. The Coyotes eliminated Farmington, the Desert Warriors swept Bloomfield and the Lady Broncos took out Capital in three sets.
Today’s quarterfinals feature No. 1 seed St. Pius, which had a first-round bye, against Roswell. Also, Academy plays Goddard, Santa Teresa advanced to meet Los Lunas and Kirtland Central gets Artesia.
The 5A semifinals are 4:45 p.m. today. CLASS 4A: Both Hope Christian and Moriarty won first-round matches Thursday night to move on. The Huskies swept aside Shiprock, and their reward is a quarterfinal matchup with No. 1 seed Sandia Prep at 3 p.m. at the Star Center.
The Pintos had an easy three-set victory over Hatch Valley and will play Portales at 3 this afternoon. St. Michael’s and Robertson also had first-round byes into the quarters.
Bosque School was beaten Thursday night in the first round by Silver.
The 4A semifinals are 8:15 p.m. today at the Star Center.
CLASSES 3A-1A: There were no major upsets in any of these classes Thursday. In fact, the top four seeds in each of those three divisions all won their pools and earned byes into today’s quarterfinals.
For the full schedule, see page D2.