Andrew Martinez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Country Day School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX--On Saturday, just two days removed from Veterans Day, Phoenix Country Day School and Chandler Prep clashed for the 2A girls volleyball state championship at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Eagles (PCDS) captured their first state title with a decisive straight sets over the number-one ranked Titans 25-7, 25-20, and 25-22.

The Eagles may not have expected to soar this high at the beginning of the season. PCDS was knocked out last season by the tournament's eventual winner, Scottsdale Christian Academy, in only the second round. Perhaps no one in or outside the program appreciated the upgrade they were about to experience due to the addition of the freshmen outside-hitting duo of Quincy Rodin and Teraya Sigler.

“Watching from our very first game to now, the biggest improvement,” said Sigler, the six-foot state-wide leader in hitting percentage. “We have girls going after balls who never did, we have girls swinging 10-foot line when they were too scared to before. And we have girls who just came out of their comfort zone and they are so confident now, and I am so proud of them.”

In the initial set, the Eagles picked up where they left off in the semi-finals match the night prior. Their offense was rhythmic and overflowed with confidence, as they bolted out to a 10-3 lead. After this, both teams showed some jitters, sending errant serves into the net and making passing miscues, bringing the score to 12-7. 

Rodin, who is ranked eighth in the 2A Division in aces with 80, went on a run of incredible services to spark the Eagles offense. Those serves, paired with Sigler and a third freshman, Mia Warner, doing their best impressions of a brick wall at the net, overwhelmed the Titans. The Eagles went on a 13-point run of brilliance, blocking many Titans kill attempts and scoring flawlessly, to lay down the tone in the opening set, 25-7.Players from both sides sky up for a ball at the net. (Andrew Martinez/AZPreps365)

The senior Eagles have been through many trials and tribulations in the four-year span that captain Lilly Robinson has experienced. Saturday was a triumphant moment for her. Once the trophy was in her possession, she did not let it go. Robinson strolled around with the heavy and uncomfortable trophy in her arms for an extended period, only reluctantly surrendering it to coach Kat Glaeseman once she was asked for an interview. To Robinson, the trophy was a symbol of years of dedication finally being rewarded.

“It's been crazy seeing the difference from freshman to senior year, especially with the rest of the seniors, we have improved so much,” said Robinson. “Not just skill-wise but confidence-wise. Like Alex (senior Alex Goldstein) she has improved so much as a libero and just as a person in this time and it's crazy to see everyone here has improved: the freshmen, the sophomores, everyone was improving to be better for the team and that's so special.”

In set two, the Titans found some rhythm in their offense and were able to keep the score knotted with the Eagles at 6-6. Junior Zoe Yates scored a kill and a block on back-to-back plays for the Titans, followed by an errant kill from Rodin and an ace serve from senior Taylor Dedich, giving Chandler Prep momentum and a 13-11 lead in a crucial stage of the game.

This was to be the extent of their momentum, though, as Lilly Robinson at service propelled the Eagles to another scoring outburst of six straight points to take a 21-16 lead. The Eagles went on to take this set, 25-20.

While the Eagles freshman duo are extremely talented, the state tournament is known to be a highly competitive level that many aren’t able to adapt to successfully in their first attempt. Robinson was proud of her younger teammates for their maturity and solid all-around performances.

“They (the freshman) have been so solid, the only dip in performance was yesterday (semi-final vs Scottsdale Christian Academy) in those first two sets we didn't know what to expect,” said Robinson. “But they bounced back and took control, helped talk in the huddles and they wanted the rest of the team to be on the same page as them. We wanted to win more than any other team.”

The Titans were not ready to lie down in set three. A good service streak by senior Mia Evers that included two aces allowed Chandler Prep to take an early 9-4 advantage. The top-ranked Titans continued to play well and hold off the offensive onslaught brought by Sigler. Dedich made multiple plays at the net, tipping the ball to the ground and making the scoreboard tick for the Titans. The score was 20-15 and the Titans had the advantage heading into the final points of the set. 

The Eagles were not in favor of playing a fourth (or fifth) set, however. They fought back to within two points, prompting the Titans to call a timeout. This did little to slow the Eagles' momentum, as they first tied the score at 21-all, and then took the lead on an ace serve from Goldstein in three consecutive points, 22-21. Another timeout was fired off within two minutes of the last by the reeling Titans squad. A kill from Sigler and a crowd-surging block by senior Ella Wilmink set up Lilly Robinson for a more than fitting ace finish from the Eagles senior captain to win the match and give PCDS its first 2A state championship, 25-23.

“This team deserves it so much, especially the seniors, in past year they never had the chance to do it but now they can,” said Sigler. “To say that they (seniors) are 2A state champions is just so heartwarming and I am at a loss for words of how grateful I am for them.”The lady Eagles huddle around the trophy with Teraya Sigler sporting the state championship banner as a cape. (Andrew Martinez/AZPreps365)“It is the best feeling ever, I know I said that about yesterday,” said Robinson. “But, the best two days ever, we have worked so hard for this and us seniors, especially Alex and I, we have waited four years moment and I am just so proud of everyone.”

PCDS finished the season with a record of 16-1 without tournaments and 26-1 including tournaments, their only loss came in the season opener against the Valley Christain Trojans in a five-set heartbreaker. Their set record this season was an incredible 74-6 and they ended it all on top for the first time ever.

Phoenix Country Day School won its fist volleyball championship in school history. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com