Jack Connolly is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chandler Prep for AZPreps365.com.

GOODYEAR - The Chandler Prep girls volleyball team faded late in the first set, 25-22, at St. John Paul II in Goodyear, but swiftly responded by claiming the next three sets on Tuesday night. 

After falling in the opening set, 25-22, Chandler Prep surged in the next three sets, 29-27, 25-19 and 25-16. 

The Lions came into the game shorthanded, without their two starting middles, forcing them to promote players from the junior varsity team and  practice squad.

Facing deficits of 11-6 and 21-16 in the first set, the Lions rallied on the backs of their outside hitters, sophomore Gabrielle Gonzalez and senior Janey Lopez Rico. 

Gonzalez had two kills and five digs, and Lopes Rico had four kills and two digs in the opening set to squeeze out a 25-22 win. 

“Our team came together at the end of the first set and truly fought for each other,” St. John Paul II coach Brianna Grabber said. “I have to give credit to Janey, she started taking over. I’m really proud of her.”

The second set was tight early, knotted 9-9, then a string of three attacking errors helped the Titans take a 13-9 lead.  

Subsequently, a 7-3 Lions run gave them a 17-16 advantage going down the stretch.  

When the Titans fell behind, sophomore libero Tala Fulgham rallied her teammates with encouragement. 

“I’m a younger player on the team, and to see them respond in that way is amazing to see and watch,” Fulgham said.

Drama intensified following a cross-court kill to the deep-right corner from St. John Paul II junior right side hitter Izabella Frankowski, rotating to the left side of the court during a rally.

Initially called “in” for the Lions, the point would have put them up 24-23, but instead it  was overturned following a review from officials, giving the Titans a set point. 

Sophomore right side hitter Valentina Reyes kept the Lions alive with a kill to push it back to deuce. Down 26-25, Fulgham saved the Titans with a one-handed diving dig that carried over the net to extend a point that ended in an attacking error by the Lions to tie the set, 26-26.

Titans freshman middle hitter Madeline Yates earned the “Titan Hammer” game MVP award following nine kills and three blocks, including recording two consecutive blocks at the net to secure the second set, 29-27, and even the match, 1-1.

The creaks of a front line that lacked experience were exposed in the third set for St. John Paul II. Ten of the first 17 Chandler Prep points came off Lions errors. 

Senior setter Natalie Mapili kept the Lions afloat in the third set with four aces in the midst of a 6-0 run to trim the Titans’ lead to 20-17. 

The Titans held off the Lions by closing the third set on a 4-0 run, including a set point ace from Fulgham to punctuate it, 25-19.

Up 2-1, Chandler Prep pulled away in the heart of the fourth set. An 8-6 St. John Paul II lead evaporated after nine errors and the Titans cruised to a 25-16 victory. 

“We really needed this win,” Chandler Prep coach Courtnee Oglesby said. “Those games last week were rough. I’m pleased that we were able to rise to the occasion and play a complete game.

Chandler (2-3) will visit Pima (1-2) on Friday at 6 p.m, while St. John Paul II (3-4) will host North Valley Christian on Friday at 6 p.m.