Mesa's Annie Hatch (#4) prepares for Set 2 vs. Mtn. View and not intimidated by Toro Nation (AzPrep365 photo)

 

On paper before the 2017 season began, Mesa High was the favorite to nab 6A East Valley Region honors from its five sister schools. East Valley Region play began for Mesa on Wednesday night and the Jackrabbits backed up the preseason assessment with a 25-19, 25-14, 25-14 triumph over rival Mountain View at Toro Gym.

Mesa, which notched a road win at Valley Vista on Tuesday night, didn't show fatigue from what would be considered a lengthy travel destination for a Valley high school team one night to the next. Mesa received Mountain View's best effort of the evening in the first set and then proceeded to dominate the final two sets.

"It doesn't matter when or what year we play Mountain View, we always expect a tough match," Mesa coach Amy Strawn said. "In a rivalry game the records, the stats don't matter. We played well. The girls didn't freak out or panic being our first region game and knowing it was Mountain View. We played smart, we keep learning. Tonight we served well and got them out of system."

Mesa (12-4 overall and 5-3 in power-ranking matches) shared the East Valley Region title with Red Mountain last season. With one of the top players around in junior Annie Hatch plus most of the rest of its starters and reserves from 2016, the Jackrabbits are quite the obstacle for the other Mesa schools over the next five weeks.

Annie Hatch led Mesa with 13 kills and senior middle Harley Cummard checked in with seven kills and three blocks. Mesa didn't need much else as Mountain View struggled in a number of facets after the first set, much to the chagrin of coach Tony Millanes. Hannah LeBlanc led Mountain View unofficially with six kills.

"We have five freshmen we've put on the court," Millanes said. "We get it we are young. But this is Game 7 and we're still missing a lot of things. It's not Game 1, 2 or 3. We should have a better mindset of what we're doing."

Mountain View (4-9 overall, 1-6 prm) won its region opener Tuesday night beating Skyline in five sets. And Millanes felt good after Wednesday's first set, but it's been a broken record in downhill performance for the Toros after first sets.

"It's so frustrating," Millanes said. "We need our better players to come forward and inspire the effort."

Neither team led by more than four points in the first set. Mesa's lead was 20-19 after successive kills by the Toros Hannah Decious and Caitlynn Driggs. Mesa's 5-0 run concluded the set with kills by Annie Hatch and Kate Hatch, a Mountain View net violation and two aces by Cummard.

The next two sets were not competitive. Mesa grabbed a quick 7-1 lead that grew to 20-6 at one point. The third set was a bit better for Mountain View, but a 6-5 deficit grew to 18-9. The match ended with Mesa's 10th ace of the night, this one from Brielle Bowden. Seven different players recorded aces for Mesa.