SUNSET REGION: Centennial upsets Shadow Ridge for Sunset Region title

Centennial senior Matt Kurtz has struggled with a shoulder injury and, by his own admission, hasn’t played well through the final half of the volleyball season.

It appears his troubles are behind him.

Kurtz threw down 19 kills to lead the Bulldogs to a 20-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-18 upset over Northwest League champion Shadow Ridge in Friday’s Sunset Region championship match.

“We definitely started off a little slower,” Kurtz said. “We really know how Shadow plays. We’re definitely a team that adapts to a team’s playing style throughout the game, and I think we did that really well. And we just put the ball away.”

Kurtz left Centennial’s semifinal match against Bonanza early on Thursday, but his replacement, McKay Holley, performed well in his stead. On Friday, the team captain knew he wouldn’t have that luxury.

“The kid who replaced me was sick today, and I’ve been struggling with a shoulder injury, so it was really nice to come back and play a pretty good game,” Kurtz said. “It feels good. I haven’t played real good in a while, so it feels good to come out in a regional final and do what we got to do to get it done.”

Leo Durkin dished out 50 assists and put up 10 kills for the Bulldogs (15-2) while frustrating the Mustangs defense all night as he would tap the ball over the net for easy kills.

“When a pass is on the net, I jump up, and if I don’t see that guy jumping with me, I got him beat, and I throw it down,” said Durkin, who learned the move from his club team. “That’s how it goes, normally.

“I believe it’s the first time my coaches let me have free reign over that.”

Shadow Ridge (19-2) jumped to an early lead thanks to Taylor Lancaster’s four kills in the first game, while a balanced Mustangs attack also led to two kills each from Zach Hafen, Jake Shea, Thomas Rowan and Joe Pearson.

“We kind of came in nervous in that first game, but then we got that nervousness out and came out strong from the second,” Durkin said.

The senior setter helped his team rebound with four kills in the second game, and Cameron Olsen added four of his 13 kills in the third game to Kurtz’s seven late kills, to help the Bulldogs take control.

“We didn’t get down on each other (after the first game),” Kurtz said. “We played as a team, kept being supportive, and knew we were going to come through. We trained a lot on the first ball, and I think that helped a lot with us.

“And then we just worked together as a team, adapting to our strengths and their weaknesses.”

Tyler Rogers notched 10 kills and three blocks, including the match-winner, for Centennial. Ryan Ramin added six blocks for the Bulldogs.

Jeremy Makaiwi had 30 assists and two aces for Shadow Ridge, and Lancaster and Shea added eight kills apiece. Hafen finished with six kills, and Rowan had five kills and two blocks for the Mustangs.

Shadow Ridge will play Sunrise Region champion Las Vegas on Tuesday in a state semifinal match at 5 p.m., while Centennial will face off against Sunrise runner-up Coronado at 7 p.m.