Mesquite feshman Jenna Heller was as good as she warmed up setting vs. Williams Field. (AzPreps365 photo)

 

Mesquite and Williams Field are going to have a tough time winning their region with the way Queen Creek is playing as October begins. But at this juncture the San Tan Valley foes are in the mix for qualifying for the top 16 and avoiding a play-in game to the 5A state tournament come the end of the month.

In what was a bit of a surprising outcome Tuesday night, No. 13 Mesquite had an easy time with No. 10 Williams Field, sweeping the visiting Black Hawks, 25-16, 25-18, 25-9.

The reason? Mesquite played well and in Williams Field defense the Black Hawks were scrambling to make things work down three starters due to injury. Mesquite had a huge edge when it came to serving, dishing 14 aces along with streaks by Williams Field where its attack couldn't find the mark.

Mesquite (20-14, 7-5 power-ranking matches) was the more consistent team in execution featuring a lineup with three seniors, three freshmen and a sophomore among its rotations. 

"This was the shortest rotation I've started this year," Mesquite coach Carlos Flys said. "We were really efficient tonight."

Freshman setter Jenna Heller mixed up her sets with sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn Holland senior middle-right side Haley Fitzgerald and freshman middle-outside Madison Cadden sharing thel limelight on the attack. Holland led with nine kills, Fitzgerald had eight and Cadden seven. The first set was relatively close with Williams Field within 21-16 late. A service error, two Mesquite kills (Fitzgerald and Holland) and an ace closed out the set.

Williams Field (11-8, 8-3 prm) was vulnerable in the middle with two of the three injured players out playing there -- senior Alexa Baysinger and sophomore Jasmyn Tate.

"We struggled," Williams Field coach Jeremy Hutter said. "We may be down the same players for a while longer. Alexa maybe two to three weeks."

Williams Field never led in the second set and was still close enough to make a run late. The third set was over quickly as Mesquite broke out to an 8-1 lead that included four aces in that streak. Williams Field has qualified for the state tournament just once (2010) since its first varsity season in 2008. Last year the Black Hawks earned a play-in game, but didn't win to nab a state berth.

Mesquite continues a busy week Wednesday with a home match against region-leader and No. 5 (power rankings) Queen Creek. Thursday the Wildcats travel to  No. 9 Campo Verde. Williams Field get its first regular-season look at Queen Creek at Queen Creek on Thursday.