Salpointe went 8-3 at the La Jolla Coastal Classic this past weekend to claim second place in the silver bracket and the Lancers came home wondering where they would be ranked on the first set of AIA rankings released Tuesday morning. Salpointe (22-5 overall, 9-0 in ranking matches and 2-0 in the 4A Kino Region) came out ranked No. 2, right in front of region rival Canyon del Oro (9-1, 2-1).

The two teams met Tuesday night with Salpointe coming away with a 3-0 sweep over the third-ranked Dorados to remain perfect as far as wins and losses go but the team knows improvement comes with growth.

 “We went to California and it helped us to see we have room to grow,” said sophomore standout Andrea Owens. “We are still figuring out how to get better and learn more as we go.”

In a bit of an oddity, Owens plays for Salpointe but her father, Mike Owens, coaches the Dorados. It’s the fourth time the two have been on opposite sides of the net but it still causes a bit of emotion.

“Everything is fine now but every time I mess up I know my father is watching,” Andrea Owens added. “But, when we leave, we are father and daughter.”

Owens was named the Southern Arizona Freshman of the Year last year after she helped lead the Lancers to their second state championship in a row. Besides having a dad as a coach, her grandfather played basketball for the Peruvian National Team and her mother, Natalia Owens, played volleyball for Peru and Washington State.

Owens finished with eight kills in the match against Canyon del Oro as did University of Arizona Beach Volleyball commit, Alex Parkhurst. Setting up the pair of hitters was a pair of setters in sophomore Brandy Kishbaugh (10 assists) and junior Katherine Schepelmann (11 assists).

Canyon del Oro took control of the first set and jumped out to a 12-8 lead but the Lancers went on a 17-7 run to close out the set, 25-19. Katie Call finished the night with 16 assists for the Dorados and she was able to get the ball to her favorite target in senior Eve Pearson (8 kills).

The Dorados dropped the second set 25-17 and the third 25-18 and the result was not much of a negative for the senior standout but more of a motivation for her and her team.

“We worked hard in practice to prepare and this means we will go back to the gym and prepare even harder,” Pearson said. “The girls are starting to come together.”

The Dorados will travel to Sahuaro on Thursday before heading out to the Chandler Prep Invitational on Friday and Saturday and the Lancers will host Casa Grande on Thursday night.

The rankings will be updated every morning at 10 a.m.