Setter’s key blocks boost Centennial

Centennial welcomed unexpected defensive help Friday in its 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Shadow Ridge in the Sunset Regional Championship volleyball match at Silverado.

Mike Tagliaferri did his usual solid job at setter with 50 assists, but he added six blocks. With the taller Breyden Burley (18 kills, 10 digs), Chandler Tidwell (14 kills, eight digs) and Jordan Leach (10 kills, seven blocks), the Bulldogs have the luxury of letting Tagliaferri concentrate on setting up the offense.

With the Bulldogs trailing 17-16 in the final game, though, Tagliaferri blocked a shot for a point to tie the score at 17. Another Tagliaferri block put the Bulldogs up 20-18.

"Mike's our setter, and we really don't count on him to be a big part of our defense," Centennial coach Scott Nelson said. "He has such great timing on his blocks that he's always on top of the ball when it comes to him."

After Tagliaferri's final block, Chey McDonald's ace and four Shadow Ridge errors accounted for the Bulldogs' final five points.

Josh Shea had 48 assists, Mark Schuermann 18 kills, Tyler Payne 12 kills and Mike Hansen 10 digs for the Mustangs.

"These games (against Centennial) are toss-ups in many ways," Shadow Ridge coach Christian Augustin said. "Both teams are ready for the state tournament, and it showed."

Centennial (33-4) and Shadow Ridge (20-3) already had qualified for next week's Class 4A state tournament at Silverado, where they'll see Sunrise Region finalists Silverado (32-8) and Las Vegas (17-4).

The host Skyhawks will enter the state tourney as the Sunrise Regional champs, as they beat the Wildcats, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17.

Thomas Sullivan had four of his seven kills during the first game for Silverado, and teammate David Royal had two of his nine kills in the first eight points of the opening game.

"One of the hardest things to do with a team like Las Vegas is play with the lead," Silverado coach Eric Drum said. "When (the Wildcats) get down, they (can) become very dangerous."

Richie Arguello had 33 assists and 11 kills, Mike Habura eight kills and eight blocks, Joey Paratore eight kills and Talon Goon 16 digs for Silverado.

Nathan Ruesch had five kills and Colin Pretlow 12 assists and four kills for Las Vegas.