Tyler Bednar is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Mountain High School for AZPreps365.com.

The 13th-ranked Desert Mountain Wolves defeated the 19th-ranked McClintock Chargers 25-7, 22-25, 25-10, 25-12 in the 5A Conference Play-In tournament Tuesday night at Desert Mountain High School.

With the win, Desert Mountain continues its season to the first round of the AIA Girls Volleyball 5A State Championship, where it will face No. 4 Notre Dame on Thursday, Nov. 3.

Desert Mountain’s serves were important to the dominant first set win against McClintock. Senior setter Nicole Cronin started the game with a service ace.

Leading 2-1, the Wolves began an 8-0 run. Senior libero Lexi Purinton added a few aces during the run. The Chargers didn’t return any of Purinton’s first six serves.

“We wanted to serve them deep and right at their chest, so they didn’t have an opportunity to move their feet,” assistant head coach Kileigh Swinton said. “In the first set, we did a really good job with that.”

Trailing 8-1, the Chargers finally returned Purinton’s serve, which set up a kill for Desert Mountain sophomore middle hitter Rory Tower.

The scoring run ended on a Purinton service error, but the Wolves led 9-2.

After exchanging points, senior libero Shaina Ross added two more aces to the Wolves’ total. Desert Mountain led 12-3.

Sophomore outside hitter Olivia Colletto added another ace for the Wolves. The Chargers’ lack of communication resulted in many free points for Desert Mountain in the first set.

Desert Mountain secured the first set 25-7 with two powerful kills and a tip shot.

The Wolves continued their momentum the rest of the match.

On all levels, the Wolves dominated, but especially with their serves. Desert Mountain totaled more aces than the Chargers scored points in the first set.

Junior outside hitter Vivian Adamucci explained the importance of The Den, Desert Mountain’s home court.

“I think we all want to do good in front of everyone that we know at school,” Adamucci said. “[The fans] just keep our energy really high. At away games, it’s harder to stay energized.”

Despite the fans’ overwhelming support, the Wolves’ energy quickly disappeared in the second set.

Tower began Desert Mountain’s scoring with a kill, tying the set at 1. The Chargers took their first lead of the night, 4-3 on a two-point run. Tower responded powerfully with her second kill of the set.

Tower continued her performance. The two teams endured a long volley, highlighted by Tower’s block. Desert Mountain secured the point and the lead 5-4.

The Wolves extended their lead with tip shots from Colletto and Cronin and a commanding kill from Adamucci.

After this point, the team started to lack energy. McClintock went on a 4-0 scoring run and retook the lead 10-9.

The Chargers won a few long and important volleys, extending their lead to 17-12, putting the team in a difficult spot.

“The girls weren’t talking,” Swinton said. “We had our tails tucked behind our legs, and we were not the aggressor in that second set.”

Desert Mountain made a comeback and shortened the Chargers’ lead to 20-18.

The Chargers took command the rest of the set, winning 25-21.

With the match tied at 1 set a piece, Desert Mountain huddled up, attempting to regain momentum and energy.

“[Head coach Dana Achtzehn] was like, we knew we could win it with serves in the first set, but if you let go, they’re a scary team,” Junior outside hitter Aubrey Johnson said. “The whole team focused back in and really worked on the basics.”

Desert Mountain’s energy returned in the third set. Cronin and Purinton added aces, and the Wolves began the set on a 7-1 run, resulting in McClintock taking a timeout.

Achtzehn said he was pleased with Cronin’s performance in the victory.

“Nicole was gritty,” Achtzehn said. “She dug deep and did everything we needed her to do.”

The Wolves started relying on their heavy hitters. Adamucci added three kills, two in a row, to extend Desert Mountain’s lead to 11-3. Purinton passed a perfect cross-court set on Adamucci’s final kill.

Desert Mountain’s energy persisted, and the points continued. The Wolves went on a 7-1 run, notching an 18-4 lead.

Every play was going the Wolves’ way. Sophomore defensive specialist Charlotte Kroll’s serve set up Johnson for an easy kill. Johnson added two more kills, and the Wolves won the third set 25-10.

“After we closed out the third set, we really got extra motivation, knowing that we can really do this,” Swinton said.

Desert Mountain and McClintock opened the fourth set tied at seven. Tower added two more kills, and Ross got back-to-back aces early in the set.

The Wolves gained momentum after winning a long volley and extended its lead to 10-7. Colletto continued the Wolves’ crucial run with two aces. The run ended on a Colletto service error, but the Wolves led 14-7.

Sophomore middle hitter Ava Niven made two plays in a row. She blocked a Chargers’ attack, and then tipped the ball for a kill.

The Wolves finished the Chargers off with an 8-0 run. During the run, the Wolves added three more service aces and two kills, taking the fourth set 25-12.

Cronin said the team’s chemistry was important to advancing to the next round of playoffs.

“We have a really good chemistry,” Cronin said. “If we have that in our next game, we bring that with us, then I think it will turn out good.”

Desert Mountain continues its state run against the Notre Dame Saints Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. at Notre Dame Preparatory High School. The winner will advance to the state quarterfinals against the winner of the No. 5 Cactus Shadows and No. 12 Ironwood match, also played Nov. 3.