Ben Pokorny is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mountain Pointe High School for AZPreps365.com.

AHWATUKEE—10 years ago, Justine Ackie spent a senior night filled with hugs, words of encouragement, and understandably tears. On Tuesday night in the main gym at Mountain Pointe High School, it was more of the same for the Chardon State College graduate. However, this time, senior night did not mark the end of her high school playing, but rather her first season as head coach of the Pride. 

The start of Tuesday night's matchup between the Mountain Pointe Pride (2-15) and the fourth-ranked Corona Del Sol Aztecs (13-3) that ended in a three-set sweep for Corona del Sol was a see-saw affair until just before the midway point of the first set.

 With the score at 9-7 in favor of the Aztecs, Corona del Sol exploded for a six-point run that led to a Mountain Pointe timeout with the score at 17-8. Unfortunately for the Pride, the timeout did not have the desired effect they were intending. Led by the stellar net-front play of Ella Lomigora, Corona Del Sol went on an eight to two-run to claim the first set by a score of 25-10

Kyndell Broom, Anna Williams, and Rikay Johnson talk in the 2nd set of  Tuesday's match. (Ben Pokorny/AZPreps365)

The early goings of the second set were comparable to the back and forth tilt of the first, but once again, Corona Del Sol showed why they have been perfect in region play. With the score at 6-4, Corona Del Sol's Georgia Lee toed the service line and proceeded to rattle off aces on four of her next six serves to give the Aztecs a commanding 12-4 lead.

 Corona Del Sol Head Coach Ben Maxfield was happy with his team's consistency on the night and throughout the season. "We have a lot of depth, and most of those girls who came off the bench could start for us," said Maxfield. The depth of the Aztecs showed on the stat sheet as more than a handful of the roster collected multiple kills in the match. The 2nd frame came to a close when senior Sydney Meyer launched a lightning bolt kill to put the Aztecs one set away from a sweep by a 25-9 tally. 

The third and final set of volleyball at Mountain Pointe High School for the 2021 campaign kicked off with an 11-0 run for Corona Del Sol. Aided by an array of Mountain Pointe errors, the Aztecs cruised to another double-digit set victory to claim the checkmark in the win column in a three-set sweep.

It was not the end to a season they wanted for Mountain Pointe seniors Alyssa Groves, Kinsi Norris, Madi Bratlie, and Alabama State commit Mimi Harris. However, for Pride Head Coach Justine Ackie, the 2021 campaign laid the groundwork that she wanted for the program going forward. "Things are moving in the right direction, and we wanted to create a culture of family here, and as you can see, everyone is pretty emotional, so I think we created that here," Ackie said. 

The four seniors of the Pride program will now head off to their next endeavors but will have an everlasting effect on the program "They (the seniors) were leaders on and off the court, and they gave us a great start here, and I could not have asked for a better group of seniors." Ackie added. 

Although having been through the emotional rollercoaster of a senior night at the high school level already, Ackie's experience Tuesday night will be remembered. "Senior night is harder as a coach, you build those relationships with the girls and watch them grow and flourish into young women ready to go into the world, and that is something you cannot get as a player," Ackie stated. 

 Corona del Sol will take on Sunnyslope Wednesday night for their senior night and will be looking for a win to finish a perfect 11-0 in the 6A Central region. The Pride and Ackie will have to wait until the 2022 season to return to the court but will be ready to roll when the regular season kicks off next August on the corner of 48th and Knox.