Sleepwalking through the Class A state volleyball tournament never is a good idea.

That, though, is exactly what Caliche was doing Friday at the Denver Coliseum.

The Buffaloes lost their opening match in four games to La Veta and then trailed Otis 2-1 in games in their second match.

"I know what kind of talent we have, I just didn't know if we were ever going to wake up," Caliche coach Jeanett Lambrecht said.

The Buffaloes came alive just in time, rallying to beat Otis (28-26, 26-28, 23-25, 25-18, 15-5) in a pool- play match.

"It was frustrating to watch, but I am definitely happy that the girls came through," Lambrecht said.

"When we get our offense going, we're tough to beat. The problem we were having (against Otis) was that defense was divided. Once we started playing as a team defensively, everything changed for us."

La Veta leads the Pool 2 standings with a 2-0 record, followed by Caliche and Otis, both at 1-1. Caliche concludes pool play this morning against winless Springfield.

La Veta, which is making its inaugural appearance at state, also won its late match Friday against Springfield. The Redskins had beaten Caliche in four games in their first match.

"Everything was new to us here, but I was very pleased with the way we went out there on the court and competed," said La Veta coach Trenda Howard, in her 10th season directing the Redskins.

"We've made it to regionals seven out of the last 10 years, and I was very happy with the way my girls performed here (at state)."

Lambrecht, in her fifth season at Caliche, realizes her squad must keep up its intensity today.

"We know what's on the line today and we have to go out there and take care of business," Lambrecht said.

"That's been our motto all season, to go out there and take care of business. I just very happy for the seniors on this team because I coached these girls since they were in eighth grade."

Fleming, the state runner-up a year ago, is atop the Pool 1 chart with a 2-0 record, followed by

Flagler and McClave, both at 1-1.

Fleming beat Vail Christian 19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-13 and then outlasted Flagler in five games late Friday.

"The girls got the job done (Friday)," said Fleming coach Derek Herbert, whose team lost in the final to Kit Carson last season in five games.