Though the crowd was still relatively small due to COVID-19 restrictions, the excitement of the parents, the teachers, and the Titan JV team filled the gym and players with energy. Both the Mustangs from Rancho Solano and the Titans from Chandler Prep went into this match with only one loss, the Titans winning in three sets in every other match other than their 2-3 loss to Rancho on October 22nd.

On Friday, October 30th, both teams fought and succeeded to keep the ball alive and powerfully defended the net, often resulting in long rallies ended by a vicious kill. The Mustangs took the first point in every set, but the Titans never once fell behind by more than six points. Chandler Prep played deeper into their bench than normal, with constant substitutions allowing the same six Titans to serve consistently in all five sets. Britney Dudley, Assistant Coach for Chandler Prep comments on the adaptability of the team:

“I mean we just have such a loaded set of girls that we can throw anyone in there and they will deliver and execute so it’s really sweet just having that different set of assets. Also, our transfers Alyssa and Anna have just been a really big contribution to the team, so that’s good. The girls are growing and it’s kind of hard to choose!”

The first set was the closest with a final score of 26-24 and the first of three Titan wins. Junior setter Alyssa Smith snatched the victory with two aces and an assist to Senior hitter Olivia Cadien after Rancho Solano netted a serve on their game point.

Constant back and forth action at the net dominated the second set, the Titans led by the blocking from senior Evi Yates. Despite these efforts and some impressive digs from senior setter Holly Gialketsis however, the Mustangs won the second set 25-22. Rancho Solano went on to take an early lead in the third set with a five-point service run. Yates and Cadien racked in five kills each, but the Titans could not catch the Mustangs, who lead almost wire-to-wire and won 25-21. Senior hitter for the Titans Ellie Unruh said this:

“At times, our energy was a little shaky, but I feel like at the end, we really kept it up to win the match. Going into the fourth game, we had a lot of that energy and kept the momentum up, so I think that was really good.”

The Titans snatched the early lead in set four as freshman Juliet Mason went on a four-point service run with one ace. Gialketsis secured and extended that lead to eight points as she went on a seven-point service run with two aces. Keeping the ball alive was senior libero Cassi Bronson and killing at the net were sisters Evi Yates and Zoe Yates (sophomore), with Evi getting the block that secured the Titan win, 25-15.

Tenison and excitement grew for the final match to 15 and the Titans again dominated on all fronts. Gialketsis served four consecutive aces early in the set and the Mustangs’ power at the net was matched and exceeded by Yates and junior hitter Mia Evers for the Titans. Chandler Prep took the region title in the final set with a score of 15-8.

The Titans play their next match away against the Crimson Knights of Trivium Prep on Monday, November 2nd. Titan Up.