Horizon backs up top seed, wins 5A VB title
November 13, 2021 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Horizon players celebrate their 5A volleyball title victory on Saturday, the fourth in the school's history. (Azpreps365 photo)
Tall and talented Horizon was loaded for bear this season and the Huskies went out and proved it one final time on Saturday afternoon.
Controlling the match with defending champion Millennium from start to finish, the Huskies won the 5A title with a convincing 25-15, 25-14, 25-15 at Arizona Veteran's Memorial Coliseum.
The title was the school's fourth in its history, all under the tutelage of its longtime and only girls volleyball coach Valorie McKenzie. McKenzie has logged just more than 1,000 wins (passed that mark this season). Horizon's last championship was claimed in 2012. The others were back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.
Winning every set by at least double digits, Horizon made it look easy. It helped to have the likes of 6-foot-3 junior outside Kendal Murphy, 6-3 junior middle hitter Gigi Greenlee and 6-foot outside Taylor Johnson. Add veteran setter - senior Keira Hall and senior libero Kaden Young -- and it's a formidable presence. Johnson, Hall and Young have been varsity players for four seasons.
Johnson and Murphy collected 13 kills apiece, Greenlee eight and senior rightside Eden Driescher had six kills.
Horizon returned the bulk of its roster from last season. A season in 2020 that the Huskies were the #2 seed and upended in the second round of state by Cactus Shadows. Cactus Shadows went on to play for the 5A title against Millennium.
The 2021 Huskies had the resolve not to falter this time.
"This is a dominant team that works really hard and has fun," McKenzie said. "It's the most amazing team I've ever coached talent-wise. But more importantly it's the most amazing team because they are coachable and they work as a unit. ..... Hands down, this is the best team I've ever coached in all aspects."
Horizon never trailed in any set. The Huskies were tied just once (1-1 in the third set).
“The difference in our play today was experience," McKenzie said. "Millennium’s had some amazing teams with state championship after state championship. But what can I say? We’re just really experienced this year and that made the biggest difference.”
