Do power rankings work? Seems like they do most of the time and certainly after watching the 4A girls volleyball match at Seton Catholic High School.

Top-ranked Salpointe Catholic and #2 Seton Catholic matched unbeaten records with the difference in the end much like the spread in the power rating (Salpointe 15.84. and Seton 15.26). Seton prevailed in the odd numbered sets on Wednesday night and that meant victory for the Sentinels over the Lancers. Scores were 25-19, 17-25, 28-26, 23-25 and 15-11.

Seton (7-0) will be the new No.1 when rankings are reconfigured on Thursday, but Salpointe (7-1) likely will occupy the second spot.

"Salpointe is an outstanding team," Seton coach James Johnson said. "It was the battle we expected. We talked in the huddle before the match that it would come down to the will to win and doing the right things. We battled at the end and played it point for point."

Salpointe (7-1) forced a fifth set with a tight win in set four. The Lancers trailed 21-20, but three kills from talented 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter Andrea Owens and a timely ace by Emma Hugeback brought on the tense fifth.

Salpointe took the momentum from its fourth-set finish to lead the fifth, 5-2. It forced Johnson to call an early timeout. The Sentinels responded tying the set at 6, 7, 8 and 9. They never trailed after the 9-all tie and made plays with an 11-10 lead that brought them the win. A dump kill by setter Gracie Shearan - a rare one by her in the match - was followed by kills from Andrea Venable, Christina Kuras and Venable again to close the action.

Venable was one of four Seton players to produce double digits in kills. Kuras led the Sentinels with 17, Catherine Schwab added 13 and Katherine LaLicata and Venable posted 10 apiece. Venable was the most efficient hitter and earned praise from Johnson. 

"You have to appreciate her competitiveness," Johnson said. "She's our smallest hitter (5-5), but she can jump through the roof. She made some plays."

                                                                                      Another view of  Venable's match-ending kill lands between Salpointe defenders. (AzPreps365 photo).

Kuras managed 28 digs to augment her busy night while Seton libero Rachel Martinez was credited with 48 digs.

Salpointe possessed the most dominating player on the floor in the match in Owens. Owens piled up a season-high 28 kills. She totaled 19 of those in the third and fourth sets, but was limited to one in the final set. Fellow outside hitter Meena Moore added 11 kills. Jalynn Ransom shined on defense with 18 digs and setter Brandy Kishbaugh piled up 42 assists. 

Seton is off the rest of the week and returns to action on Oct.20 hosting Desert Sky Region foe Mesquite. Salpointe also takes time away from matches until Oct. 20 when its hosts Nogales.