By Andrew Merklinger
Contributing Writer
Xavier Prep and Corona del Sol were in a dogfight down to the final point, which saw a victorious Gators team emerge with a 6A State Championship in a 3-1 decision.
“It’s a great feeling, I’m so grateful for these girls, I’m grateful for the opportunity and this is a great feeling for all the hard work that we put in. Only one team gets to end the season with a win and I’m grateful for Xavier, the girls, the coaches, the administration, the parents, that we’re the people that get to leave with the win,” Xavier Prep head coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said following the win.
This matchup was the third time these schools met this year, with each team winning 3-1 at home, making the championship match the decisive game between the two schools who finished at the top of the 6A Central Region. Xavier won the region and earned the first seed, while Corona del Sol was not far behind at the three seed.
This was also Xavier’s first championship appearance since 2018, where its also faced Corona del Sol. For Corona del Sol, this was its 13th title game appearance, most recently winning just two years ago against Hamilton.
The game was back and forth and there never seemed to be a true moment of comfort for either squad Saturday night.
Xavier won the first set 25-16 in a round dominated by Elle McCreery, who racked up five kills and a block to set the tone early up front.
In the second set, Xavier started off hot, growing its lead to 10-3 before Corona del Sol started to get rolling and fighting back. But as a team Xavier was too strong for the Aztecs and went on to win set two 25-16 once again.
But Corona del Sol was not going to go out that easily, and used the third set to show that they belonged in the championship. Corona was in control for the majority of the third set with its largest lead being nine points and the late push by Xavier was not in time as Corona went on to win set three 25-17.
Despite the loss, it was still an impressive night for Corona del Sol's senior Alyssa Aguayo and junior Hayden Conner. Aguayo racked up 19 kills, five digs, three blocks and a serving ace while Conner had eight kills and three blocks.
The fourth set was a constant back and forth that saw Xavier go up as much as seven points. But despite this, Corona del Sol fought back to even the score at 24-24. However, the next point Corona del Sol won would be their last on the season, after going up 25-24, Xavier went on to win the next three points and its 14th Arizona state volleyball championship.
“I was so happy. Everyone on the bench was so stressed, it was so close and we were hoping to get it done in three and we didn’t but we knew whoever was going to get the ball was going to get the kill,” McCreery, a senior, said about the tension building up to the final point.
When things got rough and stressful, Bryant had one message to her team: stay calm.
“We kind of lost our composure for a hot second but we were able to regain it and come back. So, just staying calm and keeping the ball in play so we could control the things that we can control and we did,” she said.
By winning on Saturday night, Bryant won her fourth title as the head coach of Xavier, snapped their longest volleyball title drought in school history and moved into sole ownership of second all-time for girl’s volleyball championships in Arizona behind only Safford with 21.
“It definitely just shows what kind of a program and what kind of school we are and we’ve worked so hard with everything we’ve done in practice, it really just has gotten us ready for this moment and I’m so proud of this team,” sophomore standout Tessa Larkin said about the reputation of Xavier volleyball.
Larkin produced the final kill of the night, accumulating an astounding 22 on the night to go along with three serving aces, two digs and a block.
Xavier ends the season 31-4 overall, 16-1 not including tournaments, with its championship win avenging their lone loss outside of tournament play.
“It’s amazing because of all the hard work and the cumulation of everything we’ve been through as a team so it’s amazing and we’re super grateful that they could have this moment with their families that will last forever, the trophy is here forever and they get to soak it all in,” said Bryant.
The sentiment of gratitude and joy was shared by players and coaches alike in celebration of their championship win.
“I don’t even have a word for it, I feel like leading up to this day it’s been pure excitement and this is like overwhelming joy,” said McCreery.
Larkin added to her teammate’s comment, saying, “I just rely on my teammates and they rely on me, and honestly it wouldn’t be possible without them. They’re the ones that get me the ball and our setters are amazing and everyone’s passing is just insane and honestly that’s just what has enabled me to get the amount of kills I get. I just love my teammates and I’m so grateful for them.”
Bryant had one final message to her team.
“Do your job," she said. "When we do our job good things happen and we get trophies.”
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