Volleyball: #4 Basha outlasts #1 Perry in 5 sets

October 17, 2019 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Basha captain Samantha Drewry (left) and Perry captain Tatum Stall convene for the 5th-set coin flip. Bash prevailed in the fifth set to avenge an earlier 5-set loss to Perry. (Azpreps365 photo)

Basha girls volleyball coach Terri Spann was confident if her two stellar attack threats -- Sam Drewry and Jaelyn Hodge -- could produce a certain kill percentage Thursday night the Bears would be in for some celebrating against Val Vista Road rival Perry.

"I told them if both of them hit .300 or higher we would win," Spann said. 

The Bears coach was correct. Hodge hit .333 and Drewry .310. Basha turned the tables on a five-set loss to Perry to begin October by taking a five-set win of their own, 21-25, 25-20 25-20, 21-25 and 15-12 at Basha High.

This wasn't any ordinary match an a heavy-weight match that didn't disappoint.

Perry (28-3-1) entered play #1 in the 6A power rankings, a spot its held steadily since ranking first came out three weeks ago. Basha (19-15) has gradually climbed the ranking ladder and was #4. The win puts Basha in a tie for first in the Premier Region with Perry as 4-1. 

The decisive set see-sawed just like the initial four and was tied seven times, the last time at 12. Hodge, who missed the first match with Perry as she sat out the final match that gained her eligibility after transferring from Queen Creek, put the Bears up with with her 30th and final kill of the match. Hodge rotated to serve and helped garner the final two points - one via a Perry attack error and the last with a block by her teammates. Drewry and Hodge combined for eight kills in the final set.

Blocking stood out for Basha from the second set on.

"We blocked very well" Spann said. "Our block did a great job slowing the ball down and got us into our offense."

 Meghan O'Meara led Basha's block brigade with six. Drewry and setter Aspen Aldous had four each and middles Marissa Roberts and Lindsey Otero three apiece.

"I think Basha did a better job serving and serve-receive than we did," Perry coach Fred Mann said after watching his team lose for the first time in its last 16 matches. :If they get it to their outsides, they'll terminate it on you."

Perry's attack leaders held their own with Hodge and Drewry. Senior Tatum Stall led the Pumas with 21 kills (also five aces) and junior Ella Rud added 17 kills.  Senior Sian Richardson chipped in with nine kills. Setter Jenna Heller had 50 assists and liberto Jordan Suan had 17 digs.