Falcon Girl's Volleyball Invitational

 

Oct. 16-17: Catalina Foothills

Salpointe just may be a team destiny.

Down 11-6 in the third and final set to archrival Sahuaro, the Lancers went on a 9-2 run to close out another win and another tournament championship over the Cougars, 23-25, 25-15 and 15-13.

Salpointe defeated Sahuaro in a one-set championship at the Lion's Den Invitational last Saturday after Sahuaro had defeated the Lancers 2-0 in bracket play. That invite was played under a double-elimination format so Salpointe was able to comeback to claim victory when it was all but in the Cougar's paw.

It looked like Sahuaro had Salpointe on the ropes again this Saturday at Catalina Foothills after taking the first set 25-23 and building that huge lead in the third set.

Cougar junior Brielle Sterns and Lancer senior Carly Lowry battled back and forth in the first set but Madi Nash came up with three aces to help turn the tide for Sahuaro.

Sterns came up with four kills and three blocks in the second set but Salpointe pulled away for the 25-15 win to tie the match up 1-1. Then came the third set.

Abi Nash came up big for Sahuaro in the early going to help build what looked like an insurmountable 11-6 lead in a set scheduled to go to 15 but Lowry had other plans.

"We really wanted it," Lowry explained. "We set goals and then we achieve them. In this particular case we told ourselves we've been here before so we knew we could do it."

Alexandria Weaver came out of a timeout and put down a block to cut the Sahuaro lead down to 11-7 and then Magarette Schepelmann served an ace and the comeback was on.

Madi Baity held Salpointe off with a kill of her own but Alanna Duarte scored and then Salpointe gained another point on a net violation. The score was now 12-10 Sahuaro.

Lowry recorded back-to back kills and Sahuaro shot long and Salpointe was suddenly up 13-12. Sterns tied it back up 13-13 but Lowry came up with her 14th kill of the match to retake the lead 14-13 and then Lowry completed the comeback with a block.

Salpointe is the top-ranked team in Division II and Sahuaro is fifth. Invitational wins and losses are not figured into rankings or standings but the Lancers defeated Sahuaro 3-1 in a division match in September.

There may not be a more evenly matched set of opponents.

"It's frustrating and rewarding at the same time," Lowry added. We know what they are going to do and they know what we are going to do."

The Lancers have yet to play No. 7 Ironwood Ridge this year but that will remedied on Tuesday when Salpointe visits the Nighthawks in what is sure to be a wild match complete with a standing room only student section.

Sahuaro will travel to Cienega on the same night.

Las Vegas Palo Verde defeated Catalina Foothills to take third place in the Gold Bracket and Boulder City, Nevada defeated Gila Ridge to win the Silver Bracket final. Empire took care of Rio Rico to take third place.

 

Pool Play Results

Salpointe (3-0)

Sahuaro (3-0)

Catalina Foothills (3-0)

Sabino (2-1)

Palo Verde, Nevada (2-1)

Faith Lutheran, Nevada (2-1)

Boulder City, Nevada (1-2)

Yuma Gila Ridge (1-2)

Empire (1-2)

Amphitheater (0-3)

Cholla (0-3)

Rio Rico (0-3)

 

Silver Bracket

Rio Rico over Amphi

Empire over Cholla

Boulder City over Rio Rico

Gila Ridge over Empire

Rio Rico over Cholla

Empire over Amphi

 

Third Place

Empire over Rio Rico

 

Championship

Boulder City over Gila Ridge

 

Gold Bracket

Faith Lutheran over Palo Verde

Catalina Foothills over Sabino

Salpointe over Faith Lutheran

Sahuaro over Catalina Foothills

Faith Lutheran over Sabino

 

Third Place

Palo Verde over Catalina Foothills

 

Championship

Salpointe over Sahuaro, 2-1 (23-25, 25-15, 15-13)