Desert Vista had one thing left to prove Wednesday night as the 2014 prep volleyball season wound to a close. Something it hadn't encountered the length of the season -- playing and winning a fifth set.

The top-seed Thunder passed wtih flying colors opening up a 7-2 lead in the tiebreaker and went on to win the set and match over No. 2 Hamilton 21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 15-6 and nab the Division I crown at tightly-packed Mesquite High.

Both schools were trying to win their first title in the sport having each been denied twice in the past decade. Desert Vista coach Molly West, who called this the best team she's coached at the school in her two decades of work there earlier in the season, also gets to say they were the best with the championship trophy headed for the trophy case on Thursday.

It was a different night for Desert Vista in winning. The Thunder dropped the first set as Hamilton came out firing behind sophomore Preslie Anderson. Desert Vista recovered and played more the way its used to performing in taking the next two sets. Momentum seemed to say the Thunder were on the way to a 3-1 win, but that abruptly changed.

Hamilton stormed to 10-0 lead in the fourth set and led 19-10 late. Desert Vista's ability to make a run and lose by four in the set was huge, according to senior standout Jenn Tunnell.

"We didn't play like ourselves that fourth fourth set." Tunnell said. "A lot of mistakes. We came back and by not staying down it gave us a chance the last set. If they get you down, they'll think you'll stay down.

"I felt as a senior it's my responsibility to make the tight plays. When we got that last point it brought tears to my eyes."

Desert Vista did not stay down. The Thunder returned to the level of play that won them 41 of 44 matches this season. Led by Tunnell, who had 22 kills (unofficially) to lead her team's attack, Desert Vista bolted to a 7-2 lead. All seven points came on attacks with Tunnell contributing four and three others players adding one apiece. Two of the kills were rare ones from setter Kirstyn Sperry to begin the scoring and another came from setter Lexi Glover.

Hamilton got within 7-4, but no closer. The Huskies slowed Desert Vista's attack, but their own errors -- five down the stretch -- denied them a rally. Sophomore Hailey Dirrigl, who also was outstanding on the attack, earned match point with her final kill of the evening. Dirrigl finished with nine kills. Junior Hailey Harward added 10 kills and junior middle Rachel Kramer finished with nine.   

Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis, who saw the Huskies finish second for the third time in the last five years, pointed to the fourth set as the difference maker.

"I think if we could have closed the fourth set out fast we would have been in good position for the last set," Vanis said. "We weren't passing well late in the (4th) set, and they were. They had their offense working."

West agreed her team's finish in the fourth set left them with strong vibes for the fifth.

"We kept working and got our level of play back," West said. "Hamilton made us work for this. We were a little tight early, but I thought we got over that."

 Anderson led Hamilton with 14 kills (unofficially), but collected just five after the first two sets. Senior McKenna Woodford added 11 kills.

Hamilton returns eight of the nine players it relied on Wednesday night next season. Desert Vista will have five of its top nine back in 2015.