Volleyball: Mesa High stalls Red Mountain's ascent

October 4, 2016 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Mesa High's goal of being the best girls volleyball team in Mesa is within reach.

The Jackrabbits were locked in a tie for first with host Red Mountain on Tuesday night prior to their region match at the LIons Den. And other than a loss of concentration/Red Mountain's desire to avoid a sweep, Mesa prevailed in four sets, 25-17, 25-15, 21-25, 25-9.

Mesa (19-13 overall, 4-0 EV Region) now holds a game lead over Red Mountain in region as the teams in the EVR prepare to finish up the first-round of region matches Wednesday or Thursday. There were plenty of reasons for Mesa's supremacy in this one.

Sophomore outside Annie Hatch, a solid all-around player, lived up to that billing with 15 kills, 13 digs and three aces. Junior middle Harley Cummard added to the attack with nine kills. Cummard and fellow middle Eliza Heiney teamed up for seven blocks apiece. Freshman setter Kate Hatch checked in with six aces.

"We've struggled sometimes when we get up and aren't able to put our foot on the gas," Mesa coach Amy Strawn said. "I'm pleased we won. They battled in that third set. Kind of showed us they weren't done."

Red Mountain (11-13, 3-1 region) has struggled in volleyball with only one state tournament appearance in the last decade plus and rare winning records. The Mountain Lions and first-year coach Kevin Holck were a game under. 500 overall coming in to Tuesday and had the opportunity for first in the region. Too much inconsistency and Mesa's better overall play prevented that pair of positives from becoming reality.

Mesa broke open a fairly even first set with a trio of successive aces from Kate Hatch to push a 12-9 lead to 15-9. Annie Hatch had five kills in the opening set

Red Mountain looked better in the second set taking 3-0 and 8-5 leads. But Mesa's dominance on the attack and at the net got the match even at 10 and a runaway from there.

The third set looked like more of the same as Mesa led 17-13 after another Annie Hatch kill. Red Mountain followed with its best run of the day (7-0) fueled by the attacking of Mya Kyler and Olivia Klafter and won to force another set. Lafter lead Red Mountain with seven kills and Kyler and Kayla Subbert chipped in five apiece.

"We got a first ball kill the last set  and served better," Strawn said of the final set that Mesa never trailed in. "Our blocking was the best we've had this season. We've been wanting our middles to wait, read and be more patient. The did that tonight."