Injury-plagued Lewis-Palmer falls short of semifinals

DENVER - Injuries were unkind to No. 2 seed Lewis-Palmer during the Class 5A state tournament. The Rangers failed to qualify for the semifinals Saturday at the Denver Coliseum after losing their final two matches, plus a one-game playoff.

“It’s definitely a disappointment,” said Rangers coach Susan Odenbaugh, who felt a pair of injuries cost her team momentum.

Lewis-Palmer lost to No. 3 Eaglecrest 25-12, 25-19, 19-25, 24-26, 15-4 to complete pool play. Christi Limpert, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, left Game 4 with an injured ankle as the Rangers were rallying.

Senior setter Natalie Laband left during the Game 5 of Friday’s loss to No. 6 Highlands Ranch, apparently with a mild concussion. The Rangers had led 2-1 in that match.

“We had a big lead in the first game and the fourth game and lost them both,” Odenbaugh

said. “You can’t let down even for a few points here or these teams will jump on you.”

Limpert watched helplessly as the Rangers lost 25-22 — they led 22-21 — to Highlands

Ranch in a one-game playoff. Columbine then beat Highlands Ranch 25-19 to earn the pool’s second spot in the semifinals.

“We didn’t roll over and die,” Odenbaugh said. “The kids showed a lot of character and gave a valiant effort.”

“It’s so sad because we could’ve done it,” said Laband, who played with a headache Saturday. “We had so many high hopes.”

So did No. 5 Pine Creek (21-8), which went 0-3 in the tourney after losing to Mountain Vista 25-21, 11-25, 25-14, 25-19.

“We had so many good athletes but everybody is good when you get to state,” said Eagles four-year starter Anne Fredell. “We still had a great year.”

Grandview (30-0) defeated Eaglecrest (27-3) in four games to win the 5A state title Saturday night.

Class A

Top seed Fleming (32-0) won the title, beating 23-6 Flagler 25-13, 25-16, 25-10.

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