Volleyball: Basha steamrolls Chandler with sweep

October 2, 2019 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Basha's Samantha Drewry on the attack in Wednesday night's sweep of visiting Chandler. (AzPreps365 photo)

Basha shrugged of a tough loss Tuesday night to Perry and if there was any frustration took it out on visiting Chandler on Wednesday night.

Basha bolted to big leads early in each set on the way to a sweep of Chandler by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-11 in a 6A Premiere Region match.

Basha won for the seventh time in its last eight power-ranking matches to improve to 13-11 overall, 7-3 power ranking matches and 1-1 in region. Chandler fell to 11-16 overall, 6-5 prm and 1-2 in region. The Wolves were swept on Tuesday night by Hamilton, a team it defeated for the first time in a decade two weeks prior.

"We were totally outclassed tonight," Chandler coach Boby Robson said. "We were never in it mentally, and they overpowered us multiple ways."

Basha opened up huge leads in every set - 8-1 in the first, 10-3 in the second and 7-1 in the third. The Bears got contributions from all over the court. 

Senior standout and team leader Samantha Drewry, who leads the Bears in several statistical categories - kills and digs among them - finished with a lean kill total of eight (.300 kill percentage).

"Drewry has been outstanding, her  game has been incredible," Basha coach Terru Spann said. "You come to appreciate her valule as you watch her in all aspects."

A big night from Drewry wasn't needed as nine different players chimed in with at least one kill and its block rarely allowed a Chandler attack to touch the floor.

Basha fans were eager to see th debut of senior Jaelyn Hodge, who became eligible for the second half of the season after transferring from Queen Creek.

Hodge didn't disappoint, collecting a team-high 13 kills (.355 kill percentage). She didn't record her first kill until midway through the first set, but finished the set with five kills.

"We still are working on chemistry and that will continue now with Jaelyn," Spann said. "We played very well tonight, but we need to keep working."

Chandler was led on a sparse attack by juniors Makenna Carrillo (six kills) and Reece Denney (five kills).

Basha and Chandler take Thursday off before competing Friday and Saturday at the 11th annual Nike Tournament of Champions. The tournament will be held at four sites across the East Valley and in Phoenix. Basha will compete Friday in pool play at South Mountain Community College and Chandler hosts its pool at Coy C. Payne Gymnasium on the Chandler High campus.