The Durango High School volleyball team walks out of the tunnel on Wednesday as fellow students gather in front of the high school to send them off to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The Durango High School volleyball team walks out of the tunnel on Wednesday as fellow students gather in front of the high school to send them off to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca

Durango High School had a send-off for its volleyball team on Wednesday before the team headed to the Class 4A state championships, Thursday through Saturday, at the Denver Coliseum.

DHS earned their trip to state after winning the 4A Region VI title, beating No. 31 Battle Mountain 3-1 and then No. 6 Green Mountain 3-2.

The Demons, seeded No. 19 for the regional round, were reseeded No. 12 for the state tournament.

DHS will begin the tournament at 9:30 a.m. Thursday against No. 5 Lewis-Palmer. The winner will play No. 4 Lutheran, who got a first-round bye, at 3:30 p.m. The loser will play in the elimination bracket at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Also competing for the state title are No. 1 Palmer Ridge, No. 2 Thompson Valley, No. 3 Windsor, No. 6 Niwot, No. 7 Discovery Canyon, No. 8 Cheyenne Mountain, No. 9 Pueblo County, No. 10 Palisade and No. 11 Woodland Park.

Durango, the 4A/5A Southwestern League champion, is currently 19-6 overall.

Durango’s regional team included Sarah Somrak, Tyler Trujillo, Anna Folk, Eva Stewart, Emma Burns, Leah Wolf, Naomi Rowe, Hayden Neiman, Brooklyn Messier, Aava Dreger and Mason Rowland.

The Durango High School band plays on Wednesday as students assemble in front of the high school to send off of the volleyball team to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The Durango High School band plays on Wednesday as students assemble in front of the high school to send off of the volleyball team to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca
The Durango High School volleyball team walks out of the tunnel on Wednesday as fellow students gather in front of the high school to send them off to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The Durango High School volleyball team walks out of the tunnel on Wednesday as fellow students gather in front of the high school to send them off to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca
The Durango High School band plays on Wednesday as students assemble in front of the high school to send off of the volleyball team to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The Durango High School band plays on Wednesday as students assemble in front of the high school to send off of the volleyball team to the Class 4A state championships in Denver. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca
The Durango High School volleyball team loads into the bus during a send-off at the school as they head to Denver to compete in the Class 4A state championships. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The Durango High School volleyball team loads into the bus during a send-off at the school as they head to Denver to compete in the Class 4A state championships. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca
Vehicles from the Durango Police Department, La Plata County Sheriffs Office and Durango Fire Protection District escort the Durango High School volleyball team through Durango on Wednesday as they head to Denver to compete in the Class 4A state championships. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Vehicles from the Durango Police Department, La Plata County Sheriffs Office and Durango Fire Protection District escort the Durango High School volleyball team through Durango on Wednesday as they head to Denver to compete in the Class 4A state championships. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)cca