No. 2 Hamilton and No. 1 Perry made it known pretty early this COVID volleyball season they were the best girls teams in 6A and arguably in the state.

Their showdown for the 6A title Saturday night at Mesquite High School would give the winner and their school its first ever championship in the sport.

Hamilton's wait for a title was the longest. But is no longer.

The second-seeded Huskies bounced back from a first-set loss playing at the top of the their game the rest of the way in knocking off the top-seeded and unbeaten Pumas, 3-1. The scores were 19-25, 25-12, 25-22 and 25-18.

Perry finished runner-up for the second year in a row and closed the season 18-1. Perry handed Hamilton its only losses in region play.

Hamilton (17-2) had three previous tries at a championship, losing in the finals in 2009, 2013 and 2014 in five sets each time. Coach Sharon Vanis, who took over the program in 2006 and has produced ultra-winning teams ever since, now knows that championship feeling.

"We had a slogan on some shirts this season that said we play for us and for those who came before us," Vanis said. "I had several alumni come tonight and wish us luck. This is a great feeling. I wish all those players could feel what I'm feeling now."

Hamilton's attack was three-pronged and quite often the kills were unreturnable with setter Diana Ethridge spot on with 44 assists.

Outside hitters Jordan Middleton, Jahara Campbell and Micah Gryniewicz posted 20 kills, 14 kills and 12 kills, respectively. Middleton hit a phenomenal .429, Campbell .379 and Gryniewicz .281.

Libero Tatum Thomas had 23 digs and Campbell added 13.

The match began with an omen that wasn't good for Hamilton. The Huskies bolted to a 6-1 lead in the opening set, but one of those runs that has hurt it previously in its matches with Perry popped up.

Perry went on an 8-0 run to move in front 9-6 and never trailed again in the set. The lopsided run wasn't all Hamilton mistakes. A pair of attack errors started it, but Perry's last six points of the run were all kills.

That run put some scare into Vanis, who has seen those stretches on occasion.

                            Hamilton players unite after clinching the championship match against Perry. (AzPreps365 photo)

 

"This time we came back and played well, really well. That's the only time I think we lost focus," she said.

Quite true.

Hamilton dominated the second set from a 9-9 tie with the ferocious attacking by the firm of Middleton, Gryniewicz and Campbell. Middleton and Gryniewicz posted three kills each in the 16-3 finish to the set.

A Campbell kill was set point.

The tie-breaking third set saw Hamilton break into a small lead mid-set, but the set was tied 10 times. Perry led for the last time, 22-21, but Middleton took over with three kills sandwiched around an ace by Thomas to take the set.

With the 2-1 set lead, Hamilton was not going to be denied. The Huskies led the fourth set from start to finish with an early five-point lead weighing heavy on Perry.

The Pumas pulled within 20-18, but a 5-0 run highlighted by a Demya Tate block and match and title-clinching kill by Campbell. Hamilton returns Middleton, Gryniewicz, Thomas, Ella Butler and Tate among the players who saw the most action Saturday.

"They served well and that got us out of system," Perry coach Fred Mann said. "They passed better than we expected. Their physical block made it hard for us. And they played great defense."

Perry's attack was led by senior outside Alyssa Montoya, who missed much of last year with an injury.

Montoya finished with 18 kills, sophomore Avery Burks added 11 and senior Ella Rud had 10. Setter Jenna Heller handed out 39 assists. The Pumas lose five of their starters to graduation, including libero Jordan Suan and Burks.