As Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” played over the PA system between the fourth and fifth sets of Saturday’s Class 6A volleyball state championship game between Corona del Sol and two-time defending champion Hamilton, one team seemed loose while the other was laser-focused on finishing the job.

The team that was loose, Corona, took it to Hamilton in the final set to win the state championship at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The scores were 19-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16,15-6.

“When ‘Sweet Caroline’ started and they were like all jumping up and down I knew we were golden,” Corona head coach Ben Maxfield said.

“We didn’t care how it ended up,” senior Kierstyn Barton said. “We just wanted to change our attitude and make that better for each other. We wanted to play better for each other.”

Corona finished the season with a 40-5 record while Hamilton finished 34-8.

Corona jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead in the final set on the back of junior Maggie Beauer’s three service points and four kills by Barton. Hamilton was forced to take two quick timeouts to try and slow down Corona, but it was to no avail as Corona scored five of the match’s final eight points to end Hamilton’s bid for a three-peat.

Barton had five kills in the final set and finished with 24 on the night. 

“It was the Kierstyn moment and we didn’t even have to say it,” Maxfield said. “You can just see why she’s such a high-level athlete there and has a good competitive spirit.”

“I just really wanted it,” Barton said. “I think we all really wanted it. We really believed we could win it and I think our attitude in the first seven points was so good it propelled us to do good in the final five points.”

Hamilton won the opening set, when it never trailed and senior Neomi Beach led the way with six kills and twoaces.

Corona del Sol was as close as 13-12 and 17-14, but Hamilton closed out the set by winning five of the last nine points to take the set 25-19.

In the second set, the teams were tied 7-7, when Corona scored 11 of the next 15 points to open up a 18-11 lead. Corona kept applying didn’t let up, closing the set on a 7-4 run to win the set 25-15 and even the match at a set apiece.

In the pivotal third set, the teams went back and forth with kills from Hamilton’s Mikayla Haner and Beach and Corona’s Barton and Alyssa Aguayo to tie the set at 14-14. Beach took control with three straight kills to put Hamilton up 17-14. Corona tied it at 17-17, but Hamilton won four of the next six points to grab a 21-19 lead and force a Corona timeout. Corona got as close as 21-21, but Hamilton finished the set winning four of the final five points to win 25-22 and go up two sets to one. 

After the third set, Corona coach Ben Maxfield had a simple message for his kids.

“Honestly the main thing was I was trying to get them to do was relax,” Maxfield said. “They were so tense out there. They make a mistake, and I was seeing things I’ve never seen from them all season.”

“Coach was trying to tell us to relax because we’re the ones who have the advantage and are seeded first,” Barton said, “Energy brings us out of ruts and and it really showed in the fourth and fifth set.”

In the fourth set, Beach continued her domination with three kills and a block, but Corona was up to the task, holding Hamilton at 12-12.

Corona roared back with a pair of kills from Barton and one from Beauer to put Corona up 15-12. Ella Lomingorathen took charge with a kill and six straight service points, including a pair of aces, to put Corona up 22-14.

Hamilton got as close as 23-16 as Corona got the last two points to win the set 25-16 and force a fifth and deciding set.

Beach finished the night with 26 kills and Haner added 14 kills. Corona’s Alyssa Aguayo had 14 kills and Lomingora added 11.