Volleyball goes 5-2, shows well in tourney

Xavier Prep’s volleyball team finished 5-2 overall and took third-place honors in the Silver Bracket of the annual Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas on Friday (Sept. 20) and Saturday (Sept. 21). The event featured 64 teams.

Xavier, seeded eighth overall, finished Friday’s pool play at 3-0, defeating three California teams, Rancho Cucamonga, Long Beach Poly and St. Lucy’s Priory (Springfield).

The Gators attempted to qualify for the championship bracket on Saturday morning, falling to Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.) in three sets, 25-22, 19-25 and 22-25. That result put them in the Silver Bracket.

In the opening match of Silver Bracket play, Xavier defeated James Longan of Union City, Calif., 25-21, 25-17. The Gators advanced to the bracket semifinal against Kamehameha Kapalama of Honolulu, Hawaii, but fell, 24-26, 25-22 and 18-25.

It was on to the third-place match, where Xavier turned away Peasant Grove, Utah, 25-20 and 25-12.

Xavier, now 18-3 overall, returns to play in Arizona with two home matches in the Activity Center. They are against Mesa Red Mountain on Tuesday (Sept. 24) and Surprise Valley Vista on Thursday (Sept. 26). Both matches begin at 6 p.m.