As expected, the Southern Region was well represented in the initial 5A Power Rankings released Thursday morning. Ironwood Ridge (8-1) was the top-rated team, Cienega (6-2) came in at No. 3 and Sahuaro (6-1) was ranked No. 8.  The rankings will be updated daily so expect some movement Friday morning with Sahuaro beating Cienega 3-0 Thursday night at home.

Sahuaro cruised to a 25-8 victory in the first set but Cienega battled to an 18-14 lead in the second set only to have Sahuaro end on an 11-4 run to close out the 25-22 win. Sahuaro head coach Rachel Balsiger let her team weather the storm in the second set, knowing the defensive concerns would be addressed by her players.

“We have small numbers and we work hard and play hard,” Balsiger explained. “I knew we were fully capable of coming out of it. I knew we had what it took to work through the changes.”

Morgan Wright put Cienega up 18-14 on one of her team-high 7 kills and it looked like the Bobcats were on their way to evening things up but, true to her word, the service defense started clicking again and Morgan Nash was able to find Brielle Sterns and Abigale Nash down the stretch for the comeback. Sterns finished the match with 15 kills and Abigale Nash added 13 and the two combined for seven points in that run.

Sterns came up big again at the end of third set. Wright put Cienega up 21-19 but a net violation was followed by a kill from Sterns and then Sterns recorded back-to-back blocks to put Sahuaro up 23-21. Cienega was unable to recover and Sahuaro went on to win the last set 25-21.

Cienega outside hitter Imani Litz felt communication was the key to the loss.

“There was lack of communication on our service returns,” Litz said. “You could see the confusion at times (Sahuaro recorded 15 aces). If we would have just talked and moved our feet, then it might have been a different ball game.”

Litz committed to Southern University last month. The commitment has made things a bit easier and a bit more difficult for the senior.

“It did take some of the pressure off but at the same time I feel like I have to prove myself on the court because I’m going to a D-I school,” Litz explained. “But we are having a good year even though we only have three seniors on the team. I was nervous about that when the season started but it’ worked out well.”

Madeleine Nash added 6 kills for Sahuaro while Morgan Nash finished with 32 assists. Abigale added 8 digs to go with her 13 kills and Madeleine Nash had 7 digs. Madison Baity had 5 aces and Sterns came up with 4.

For Cienega, Litz had 6 kills to go along with the 7 by Wright. Natalie Lubben had 18 assists. Litz added 9 digs and Emily Robinson had 7.