Red Mountain used a balanced attack and strong serving to complete a 6A East Valley Region sweep of Mesa High on Thursday night.

Scores were 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 keeping the Mountain Lions within one game of region-leader Mountain View (7-5 overall, 6-0 region) as the second-half of region matches kicks into high gear. The teams played in late September to open region play. Mountain View won that night, 3-1.

With the victory Red Mountain improved its power-ranking match record to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in region play. Mesa slipped to 7-7 overall and 4-3 region. Mesa's region losses are to Mountain View and Red Mountain as the region has a clear-cut, top-three.

Pacing Red Mountain offensively on Thursday were junior opposite Olivia Seutter, senior middle Ava Fedorick and senior outside hitter Hailey Dairman. They contributed seven, seven and six kills, respectively. The Mountain Lions posted 12 aces led by Elle Stevenson with six and Dairman with three. Mesa's attack leaders were the match were Rylynn Dixon (9), Makena Rumple (8) and Jonnie Cummard (6).

Red Mountain won the first set with a strong close. Mesa led 21-19, but a 6-1 run saw the Mountain Lions prevail. Three aces in the run (one by Payton Condon and the final two by Stevenson) did most of the damage.

The second set was tight although Red Mountain led almost all the way. Its final deficit was 11-10. Aiding the breakaway from 11-10 for the Mountain Lions was Dairman with three kills, a block and a final-point ace.

Mesa's final lead in the match in the third set was 6-5. Red Mountain rallied and threatened a blowout, building a 19-10 advantage. Mesa didn't give in. The Jackrabbits pared the deficit to 21-19. But two kills by Fedorick and one from Seutter guided a 4-1 close to the set.

Both teams resume action Tuesday (Oct. 18). Mesa hosts Mountain View and Red Mountain travels to Westwood.