SARGENT SCHOOL – The eighth-ranked Sargent High School volleyball won its third straight league title on Tuesday after defeating Sangre de Cristo in three sets at the Farmers’ gym.

The scores were 25-12, 25-16 and 25-16.

“I felt like they came out and played hard,” said Sargent coach Amber Mortensen. “Homecoming’s always a fun week. We mixed some things around. We have another player added to our roster. So they did well mixing it up a little bit.”

“They battled pretty good,” said Sangre coach Chad Skinner. “We just came up a little short.”

The Farmers scored the first three points of the first set, but the Thunderbirds tied the score at 3-3. Sargent then responded by scoring six straight points to go on top at 9-3.

Sangre closed to within 9-6 before the Farmers had another 6-0 run to increase their lead to 15-6. After a brief Thunderbirds side out, Sargent went on a 4-1 run to push the lead to 19-8.

Sangre narrowed its deficit to 19-10, but Sargent scored two in a row for a 21-10 advantage. The teams then traded the next four side outs before the Farmers scored the final two points to take the first set 25-12.

Sangre came out strong for the second set by scoring the first two points. But Sargent scored two of the next three points to take a 3-2 lead.

The Thunderbirds regained the lead at 6-3, but the Farmers scored four consecutive points. After a brief Sangre side out which tied the score at 7-7, Sargent had another 4-0 run to go back in front at 11-7.

Sangre cut the lead to 11-8 before Sargent scored three straight points for a 14-8 lead. The teams then exchanged side outs before Sangre scored three in a row to close within 16-13.

The Farmers scored four unanswered points for a 20-13 lead. They then scored five of the last eight points to take a 25-16 win.

Sargent started the third set with a 5-1 lead. Sangre cut the margin to 5-4 before the Farmers scored three in a row for an 8-4 advantage.

The Thunderbirds came back to narrow their deficit to 10-9, however, the Farmers responded with a 9-1 rally to push their lead to 19-10.

Sargent had a 22-13 lead, but Sangre closed to within 22-16. The Farmers scored the final three points to take a 25-16 victory.

Reese Anderson led the Sargent offense with 26 assists. Kandace Pargin led the hitting game with 21 kills, followed by Denver Holman with eight, Reese Anderson with five, and Kimmy Pargin and Emily Capron both with three.

The Farmers served up 13 aces and were led by Kandace Pargin and Catherine Deacon both with three. Kimmy Pargin, Isabella Anderson, and Reese Anderson each had two, and Holman had one.

Desarey Ojeda was Sangre’s offensive leader with six assists. Taylor Freel had three kills and Belle Beiriger had two.

The Thunderbirds had three service aces. Gentry Jiminez had two and Ojeda one.

Sargent (15-1, 6-0) traveled to Mancos on Thursday. Its next action will be a home contest against Trinidad on Oct. 23.

“You can’t underestimate anybody,” Mortensen said.

Sangre de Cristo (6-14, 3-2) will travel to Cotopaxi this coming Tuesday.

“They should be a good team as well,” Skinner said. “I think it’s one where we have the potential to take a win.”