Stephen Smith is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Thunderbird  High School for AZPreps365.com

Thunderbird opened 4A region play away to rivals Greenway on Wednesday evening. The Titans asserted themselves throughout the match, defeating the Demons in straight sets, 25-16, 25-20, 25-12. 

The Titans entered the match understanding the importance of a strong start in regional play, particularly at a rival’s gym, where players’ nerves are tested. 

“It was our first region game, and we knew that we needed to win,” Thunderbird coach Carly Price said. “It was a matter of playing mentally tough and with a lot of grit because this is a team we have a rivalry with.” 

The first set began with both teams trading points before a flurry of Titans points gave the visitors a 10-5 advantage. Fresh off breaking Thunderbird’s career kills record this past weekend, senior Hayven Lick was instrumental to this run, chipping in with an ace and a kill.

At 10-5, Greenway coach Sarah Peterson called a timeout to regroup. Her team immediately responded, capitalizing on multiple Thunderbird errors to bring things close, but ultimately, they could not fully stage a comeback. The Titans kept the Demons at bay late in the set with two aces from Lick paving the way for Thunderbird to take the first set, 25-16.

The second set proved to be a back-and-forth affair. Much like the first set, both teams exchanged points early, with another kill by Lick knotting things at 13. Greenway senior Tatum Peterson stepped up in this set, notching a kill and an ace back-to-back to make it 18-16 in favor of Thunderbird. 

“She (Tatum Peterson) is our go-to,” Peterson said. “She is our spark plug, and she did a great job. She always goes out and gives it everything she has.”

Thunderbird pulled away late in the set behind the play of Lick and sophomore Sophia Frandsen. Lick finished the match with 13 kills and four aces, while Frandsen had 11 kills. A kill by Frandsen ended Greenway’s comeback bid, giving the set to the Titans, 25-20. 

Ahead of the third set, Price adjusted her team’s set-up in the middle of the court in response to Greenway’s performance in the second set.

“We weren’t happy with it,” Price said of Greenway’s momentum in the second set. “We adjusted and put our top hitter into the middle so that she could run more through the middle.”

These adjustments proved fruitful,with Thunderbird taking the third set handily by a score of 25-12 to complete the straight-set win. Freshman Brooklynn Gwinn was the focal point of the third set, finishing the match with seven kills and three aces.

As region play picks up, the Titans will lean on their seniors for their leadership and experience, something Lick focuses on during both practices and matches.

“We have been working on being more together as a team,” Lick said of recent practices. “I make sure to bring everyone together after every single point. When someone is down after a point, I pick them up and get them ready for the rest of the game.”

Thunderbird (19-3,1-0) will host Moon Valley (5-7,0-2) on Monday at 6 p.m. Greenway (12-6,1-1) will host Goldwater (5-1,0-0) on Monday at 6 p.m.