Arizona College Prep is looking more like the team that reached the 3A girls volleyball finals a year ago.

The Knights reeled off their eighth win in nine matches on Tuesday night by sweeping host American Leadership Academy Gilbert North, 25-19, 25-189, 25-16.

The match was the 3A Metro Region East opener for ACP (9-4, 1-0) and handed ALA Gilbert North (6-9, 2-1).

ACP was clicking on all cylinders most of the evening. The Knights trailed only briefly by a point in the first two sets, but when push came to shove in the late stages they pulled away from the Eagles. They had three point leads late in each set. When the 20s rolled around they were at their best putting each set away.

The final set was not as close as the score might have indicated with ACP up 24-12 before giving up four successive points before securing match point. That was the only 4-0 run of the match for ALA Gilbert North.

"I felt the momentum was on our side and by the last set the outcome was inevitable," ACP coach Heather Orr said. "We were able to get sideouts quickly except for the last part of the last set. I thought our passing was awesome tonight. It's something we've been working hard on to improve.

"We knew they were tall and a good blocking team. Our motto tonight was to outwit, outlast and outplay them."

Unofficially ACP's attack was led by Krista Rowan with 12 kills and Tendall Weigand with seven. Julie France and Kelsey Burns had their moments as well.

ALA Gilbert North coach Steve Crook, maintains the pieces are there for his squad, which suffered its first region defeat.

"We blocked well, but when it came to hitting we made poor choices," Crook said. "Their back row defense was outstanding. They were in system more than we were. When they were out of system their setter (Wynter Ray) saved them."

ACP next faces Coronado on Thursday in a road region match and then competes Friday and Saturday at Chandler Prep's Invitational at Inspire Courts. ALA Gilbert North is idle until the weekend when it hosts its own Spike Town tournament featuring seven other schools - North, Higley, Thatcher, Snowflake, Blue Ridge Pima and ALA Queen Creek.