Defending state volleyball champion Centennial ended Rio Rancho’s season in straight sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-16) in Saturday’s 5A state tournament elimination bracket contest at the Rio Rancho Events Center.

The 12th-seeded Rams (16-11) upset fifth-seeded Los Lunas in the play-in round on Tuesday. Despite being swept by District 1-5A foe Cibola in Friday’s opening round, Rio Rancho responded with a four-set win over Sandia later that afternoon to set up Saturday’s action.

Descriptions for each photo are listed below, starting with the first one on the screen:
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Rio Rancho’s Ella Lopez hits the ball over the net from the far left side against Centennial during a 5A state volleyball tournament elimination bracket contest on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Rio Rancho Events Center.

Rio Rancho’s Ceci Gomez hits the ball against Centennial’s Tess Fuqua during a 5A state volleyball tournament elimination bracket contest on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Rio Rancho Events Center.

Rio Rancho’s Ceci Gomez and Ella Lopez look to get a defensive stop at the net against Centennial’s Tess Fuqua during a 5A state volleyball tournament elimination bracket contest on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Rio Rancho Events Center.

Rio Rancho’s Ceci Vance hits the ball toward the middle against Centennial during a 5A state volleyball tournament elimination bracket contest on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Rio Rancho Events Center.

Rio Rancho’s Victoria Echerivel hits the ball from the far left side against Centennial during a 5A state volleyball tournament elimination bracket contest on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Rio Rancho Events Center.

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Photos by Rio Rancho Observer staff writer Matt Hollinshead.