Paul Garcia II is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism graduate student assigned to cover Cactus High School for AZPreps365.com

The Cactus Cobras struck their way to a three-set sweep of the Peoria Panthers in a regional match at home on Monday night. Cactus took the three sets, 25-14, 25-13, 25-14.

It was the second and final matchup of the season between the two rivals, as Cactus dominated Peoria with two sweeps. Five of the six sets that Cactus won were by double-digits.

Cactus came out firing, building a 19-7 lead in the opening set thanks to Delaney Heady’s three aces and Jadyn Pauli’s three kills. 

The Panthers tried to summon a comeback, putting up seven more points to make it 23-14 before the Pauli sisters, Jadyn and Ziara, finished set one with back-to-back kills. 

A bright spot in Peoria’s game was middle blocker Michelle Kogbara, who led the Panthers in kills and blocks with four of each.

“She’s our most dominant defensive player," Panthers coach Ben Markley said. “She has the best blocking capabilities, longest reach and most powerful kills. Without her, we don’t have a front row.”

A dramatic start to the second set saw six ties and lead changes in the first 12 serves, making the score 6-6.

The Cactus seniors then put on a masterclass of volleyball. Senior setter Haley Stewart went on a 10-serve rally which included four aces. Seniors Zoey Zecha, Jadyn Pauli and Makayla Price accounted for the six points with five kills and a block. Before Peoria could blink, they were down 16-6.

Captain Sapphire Solano joined the senior parade with a pair of blocks and the set-defining ace giving the Cobras a 25-13 set two victory.

Stewart led the Cobras with five aces in the match, despite struggling with serve consistency earlier in the season.

“That was a bright moment for her,” Cactus coach Jana Henige said. “That 10-point run was her longest serving run all season.”

Stewart found confidence in her serve by enjoying being in the moment with her teammates.

“I was having a lot of fun on the court,” Stewart said. “When I enjoy my time on the court, that helps me stay consistent and not be nervous.”

A scary sequence occurred at the end of the second set when senior libero Mya John dove for a dig and a teammate stepped on her head. After a few moments on the training table John cheered on the Cobras for the rest of the match from the bench. 

Cactus found themselves in a pinch, needing a player to fill the defensive specialist position. Delaney Smith, a senior setter, stepped up for the Cobras in a position she had never played.

“Delany did a great job stepping up to be libero the last set,” Henige said. “She has never played libero before, even in club.”  

Jadyn Pauli and Kenli Petty piloted the Cobras to a painless set three victory. Pauli had four of her team-high nine kills in the final set. Petty was second on Cactus in kills with six, earning half in the 25-14 third-set triumph.

Cactus (9-6) earned another regional win, improving its regional record to 4-2 and keeping its playoff hopes alive with three games left in the regular season.

“Wednesday’s game is going to be a deciding factor for our playoff chances,” Henige said. “We’ll have a better idea after Wednesday.”

Cactus travels to Deer Valley (7-6) on Wednesday for a pivotal regional matchup at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks have a 5-1 record in regional play. Deer Valley defeated Cactus in a five-set marathon on Sept. 26. 

Peoria (3-11) lost its eighth straight match. The Panthers will try to end the streak when they host Agua Fria (1-13) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.