MOSCA – The Sierra Grande High School volleyball saw its season come to an end on Tuesday as it traveled to face Sangre de Cristo at the Thunderbirds’ gym.

The Panthers went out on a high note as they defeated Sangre in four sets.

Sierra Grande won the first two sets 25-23 and 25-18, but Sangre won the third 29-27. The Panthers capped off the match with a 25-13 win in the fourth set.

“It was the best way to end the season,” said Sierra Grande coach Kylie Espinoza.

“It was a tough game,” said Sangre coach Chad Skinner. “We didn’t play up to our potential for sure.”

Sangre got off to a good start in the first set as it took a 5-1 lead. Sierra Grande came back to tie the score at 6-6.

The T-birds had an 8-3 run to take a 14-9 lead, but the Panthers scored eight points in a row to take their first lead at 17-14.

Sangre answered by scoring five consecutive points for a 19-17 lead. Sierra Grande responded by scoring six unanswered points, including four straight service aces by Eneria Quintana, to regain the lead at 23-19.

The Thunderbirds were able to get as close as 24-23, but the Panthers won on a kill by Rylee Durham.

Sierra Grande scored the first point of the second set, but Sangre scored three straight points. The Panthers did the same, but the Thunderbirds had a 5-0 run to go back into the lead at 8-4.

Sierra Grande came back with a 7-1 run to reclaim the lead at 11-9. Sangre ran off four consecutive points to take a 13-11 lead., but the Panthers tied the score at 14-14.

The T-birds scored four of the next six points to take a 17-15 lead, but the Panthers finished the set with a 10-1 run to take a 25-18 victory.

Sierra Grande scored the first point of the third set, but Sangre took a 3-1 lead. The Panthers then went on a 5-2 run to take the lead back at 6-5.

The Thunderbirds scored four in a row, but the Panthers went on a 10-2 run to take a 16-11 lead.

Sangre regained the lead with a 9-3 run and it led20-19. Sierra Grande took the lead back at 21-20, but the T-birds also had a 2-0 run for a 22-21 advantage.

Sangre then had a 2-1 rally to take a 24-23 lead. But Sierra Grande scored two straight points for a 25-24 edge.

The Thunderbirds also ran off two straight point5s for a 26-25 lead. The Panthers tied the score at 26-26 and 27-27 before Sangre scored the final two points for a 29-27 win.

Sierra Grande opened the fourth set by scoring the first two points, but Sangre scored four in a row. The Panthers tied the score at 4-4, but the Thunderbirds went on a 9-7 run to take a 13-11 lead.

Sangre would not score again as Sierra Grande scored the final 14 points. Quintana had eight aces in the run.

Audrey Gerardo led the Panthers with 26 assists. Quintana led the hitting game with 17 kills, followed by Durham and Ashley Rodriguez both with seven.

Sierra Grande also served up 26 aces. Quintana led with 15, followed by Issa Wilson and Aleigha Sanchez both with four, and Gerardo, Allie Jones and Durham each with one.

The Thunderbirds were led by Desarey Ojeda with 17 assists. Belle Beiriger was the hitting leader with 10 kills, followed by Emma Jiminez with seven and Taylor Freel with five.

Sangre had eight aces with Layla Sinclair, Jiminez and Ojeda each with two, and Beiriger and Freel both with one.

Sierra Grande ends the season with eight wins and 15 losses and it was 3-3 in the Southern Peaks League. The Panthers lose only three seniors to graduation.

“I’m losing three, but I have 10 coming back,” Espinoza said.

Sangre de Cristo (7-15, 3-3) ended the season on Friday as it hosted Primero.

Both Sangre and Sierra Grande finish in a three-way tie for third place in the league along with Centennial.