By Don Ketchum

Defending state champion Phoenix Horizon was in danger of being forced into a fifth and deciding game by visiting Scottsdale Chaparral in Tuesday night’s (Nov. 4) Class 5A Division II quarterfinal match.

Horizon trailed 6-1 early and 20-17 as the fourth game was about to enter its final stages.

Suddenly, the Huskies awakened from their slumber and scored six straight points to take control and went on to win 25-22, advancing to Saturday’s (Nov. 6) semifinals. Horizon won the first two games 25-20 and 25-12 before Chaparral won the third game 25-13.

Horizon, the second seed, will face third-seeded Peoria Centennial at noon at Phoenix North Canyon.

Horizon coach Valorie McKenzie predicted that “it will be the match of the tournament.’’

Horizon drew on its experience to rally against seventh-seeded Chaparral, which it had defeated on three previous occasions this season.

McKenzie called timeouts late in the fourth game to help her players stay focused.

“Chaparral is a good team. They never let up. They’re very aggressive. They were playing like they had nothing to lose,’’ she said.

“I told (her players) to relax and play the way they know how to play. They had been there (in pressure situations) before.’’

Chaparral had pulled to within 23-22, but a serve by the Firebirds went long. Then Sierra Nobley, a 6-foot-1 freshman, unleashed the decisive powerful shot that Chaparral was unable to return.

Nobley and sisters Melissa Hess (6-2 senior) and Nikki Hess (5-10 sophomore) ruled the front line, along with another pair of freshmen, 6-1 Tess Clark and 6-2 Christine Johnson.

McKenzie said her team has been passing the ball well all season and did so in the first two games, but it somehow deserted the Huskies in the third game. The passing was much better in the fourth game, she said.