Hard to believe Xavier Prep and Sunnyslope have played so rarely over the years given the prowess both possess in volleyball.

The teams met Tuesday night in a match that counted toward postseason qualifying for the first time in at least a decade if not more and it was pretty much all Xavier.

With a balanced attack led by senior Khalia Lanier, Xavier pulled off a somewhat surprising sweep of host Sunnyslope by scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-13 in a Division I battle of championship programs

Prior to Tuesday's match the teams played five times between 2009 and 2014. All of those meetings were in invitationals with Xavier winnning four of the five. All were best-of-three as is the case in most invitationals. The loss via sweep for Sunnyslope was the first in a best-of-five match since a playoff defeat to Flagstaff in October of 2012.

Xavier (4-0) returned  the majority of its roster from last season. Ditto Sunnyslope (4-1). The schools have combined to win 13 titles between 2005 and 2014 (Sunnyslope 7 and Xavier 6) at the 5A and 4A levels. This year realignment has welcomed Sunnyslope to D-I and the Vikings will be challenged a little extra to produce another crown if this match is an indication.

Lanier, in her fourth year toiling for the Gators varsity and a USC commit, came through with a decent night finishing with a team- and match-high 15 kills. She got plenty of help from junior middle Makena Patterson and sophomore hitter Lanie Wagner, who chiipped in with 10 kills apiece. Senior setter Callie Jones spread the ball nicely for the Gators with 28 assists. Xavier coach Lamar-Renee Bryant was quite pleased with Patterson, who elevated her play to the best yet this season.

"This was a good night for us and a good one for Makena," Bryant said. "She worked hard during the club season, and has improved her game a lot. She hit .676 tonight with no errors."

Wagner, new to Xavier's lineup this year, used last year to get comfortable with private school and has the makings of a big year on varsity.

Sunnyslope started quickly in each of the first two sets taking a 3-0 lead in the first and grabbing an 8-1 edge in the second. Xavier kicked into gear in the first set thanks to the serving of freshman Shannon Shields, who served five straight points, including two aces as Xavier went ahead to stay, 8-5. That advantage grew to 20-12 before Sunnyslope managed to pull within 23-20. Wagner finished the set with her third kill of the set.

Sunnyslope's chance to even the match at 1-1 went awry after a sizzling start in the second. Senior middle Emma Wright (team-high 11 kills) and senior outside Skylar Wine (six kills), both headed to D-I schools next year, keyed the Vikings' run to an 8-1 advantage. But Xavier remained composed and pecked away tor its first lead at 14-13. The Gators maintained the lead to the end of the set -- a kill by Lanier on Xavier's fourth attempt at set point. Xavier had no trouble finishing the sweep, breaking out to a 9-1 lead and coasting to the finish.

Xavier had a strong night serving, collecting 11 aces. Some were on great serves others from indecision and at tmes a lack of communication in Sunnyslope's back row.

"We had a mental breakdown," Sunnyslope coach Amber LeTarte said. "I don't think it was one skill or another, but we weren't confident and were second-guessing ourselves.... There was a lot of hype behind this match and I think we were so hyped up we didn't play the actual game.

"They played well. Even when Khalia was in the back row Makena stepped up, and we didn't have an answer."

Sunnyslope is idle until its participation Friday and Saturday at the Tournament of Champions hosted by Westwood and three other East Valley high schools. Xavier visits Mesa Mountain View on Wednesday and then heads for Las Vegas on Thursday for the Durango Fall Classic with top teams from around the country competing.