Mesquite's topsy-turvy season wasn't that way Monday night. The Wildcats dominated visiting Thunderbird in three sets in a match completed in just under one hour. Scores were 25-20, 25-9, 25-17.

Mesquite coach Carlos Flys hopes that sets the tone for a two more matches this week that continues with region contests Tuesday (Saguaro) and Thursday( region leader Seton Catholic.

"I was looking for an effort like this," Flys said. "Other than the last part of the first set we were consistent and methodical in how we played. We're young with only two seniors. We won the Snowflake tournament (two weeks ago), and have shown signs other times We're getting healthier and have a transfer who will get to play by Thursday who will help us in the middle."

Mesquite ran its season mark to 14-10 and is 4-4 in power-ranking matches thus far. Thunderbird fell to 10-10 overall and 4-4 in power-ranking matches.

There was plenty of good all around, especially in the hitting and serving departments for Mesquite. The Wildcats hit .312 as a team and tallied nine aces. Five players had three kills or more with the most proficient junior rightside left-hander Cora Ellis. Ellis registered 8 kills with no errors. Junior outside McKenna Androsky had the most successufl attacks (11, four errors). Elli Cano and Emma Hedeeen (five kills each) and Brooklyn Holland and Kylie Webbs three apiece. Libero Layni Rodriguez, one of only two seniors on the team, had 26 digs. Aiding the attack were setters Annika Wallace (18 assists) and Daniyah Jehangir (11 assists). 

Mesquite jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and its lead was as large as 22-12 before Thunderbird began a mini-rally. The second set was all Mesquite. The Wildcats had 13 kills and three aces in the set.The third set was the most competitive start to finish with Thunderbird leading briefly by two, but never able to put together a substantial run once it got behind.

Junior outside hitter Brighton Solheim led the Chiefs with eight kills and freshman Emma Reardon added five. Thunderbird with a region win under its belt over Tempe earlier in the Skyline Region, hosts Moon Valley Tuesday and hits the road at Shadow Mountain on Thursday.

 

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