Lindsay Zienty
ASU Student Journalist

Perry defeats Xavier, moves one step closer to a championship season

November 18, 2020 by Lindsay Zienty, Arizona State University


Perry volleyball team meets for team huddle (Photo by Lindsay Zienty)

Lindsay Zienty is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Perry High School for AZPreps365.com

The Perry Pumas faced a familiar opponent in the 6A girls volleyball quarterfinals Tuesday night. Xavier and Perry previously met in October, when the Pumas swept Xavier 3-0, although they were not going to let overconfidence be their downfall. This time, the top-seeded Pumas beat the Gators, 3-0, to move one more step toward a championship season.

Perry captains Jenna Heller and Ella Rud prepared their teammates by reminding them this was a new game and atmosphere considering it was the playoffs. “I think we were confident, but we still went in with the mindset that every set is 0-0. It is set one every set. We go in with confidence because every player needs that, but we also are reminding ourselves that this is quarterfinals, we got to kill it,” Rud said.

Xavier, seeded No. 8, was known for the tough angles they were able to hit from and their strong middles. It was key for the Pumas to block and counterattack from every spot on the court. 

“Xavier likes to run pushes, ones, and slides, so in practice, we focused a lot on running on middles and hitting from both directions, but most of all just staying cool, calm, and collected on the court,” Rud said. 

Senior outside hitter Alyssa Montoya came up big for the Pumas after spending a lot of hours in practice this season perfecting her blocking technique. “I have been working on my blocking all season. My hands tend to drift. The pressing angle worked really well tonight and that is how we get stuffs,” Montoya said. 

Heller, the Pumas’ starting setter, was explosive on the block as well and key for creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. “I have been working on my offense, and when I am front row dumping or even back row, I think that holds a block and creates more opportunities for the hitters,” she said. 

Heller’s work paid off and showcased just how deadly the Pumas’ setter-hitter connection is. She also highlighted how important of a role her co-captain, Rud, played in Tuesday’s game.

“Ella kept her confidence and was swinging amazingly. She led our team,” Heller said. 

Perry has consistently been able to get on top early in sets. “If we win the first two sets we can’t let down the third set, we have to be just as strong, because that is what happened in the state finals last year,” Montoya said. 

They credited their coaches for instilling a humble mindset that reminds them to prepare for each set as if the game was still 0-0.

“Every set we win, our coaches say it is a new set. We need to play every point super hard,” Montoya said. 

Perry advanced to the semifinals where they will host  No. 4 seed Mesa Mountain View Thursday. The Pumas went 3-0 in their previous matchup against the Toros.

“We have played Mountain View, they were very scrappy. They love to swing high hands, so we have to keep our block strong,” Rud said.