By: Darius Duran

The volleyball team clinched the state championship this second year in a row by conquering their patriot league rival, Valley Vikings in three straight sets. This weekend was a huge milestone for the last two fall sports teams remaining in Eaton High School. This Saturday, Nov. 8 the football team had a tremendous game against the Gunnison Cowboys (9-2, 5-0) when they defeated the Cowboys with a final score of 43-21. Although the Reds will return to the final four with a chance at making it to the state championship this year, the Volleyball team took home the State Championship for the second year in a row. The Volleyball team’s journey to the state championship began after winning the regional tournament at home against the Denver Science & Tech Green Valley Ranch Raptors (10-9-1, 7-2) and the Middle Park Panthers (18-7, 12-0) from Granby. Their next game, which was their first in the state tournament was against the Olathe Pirates (21-6, 6-1) in which they swept them 3-0 sets, not allowing them any more than 14-points. Their next game, which they also took in a sweep was against their patriot league rival, the Sterling Tigers (17-10, 9-7), which would lead them to the semifinals and the bracketed matches of the tournament. Their semifinals match against the Colorado Springs Christian Lions (25-3, 11-1) ended in another sweep, allowing the Reds to go into the championship match without a set won against them. Their championship game was their most challenging against the second in state, patriot league rival Valley Vikings (25-4, 14-2) in which they won the first set, 22-25, their second set, 13-25, and their final set, 24-26, being their closest match in their path to the state finals.