By Don Ketchum

The girls’ volleyball team from Phoenix Veritas Preparatory Academy had been used to practicing and playing its matches in a public-use facility in north Phoenix. The school’s campus was in a small building on Lincoln Drive near the Arizona 51.

All of that has changed. The school moved to a new campus in east Phoenix that was remodeled after serving as a Motorola plant for many years, and that includes a new gym. The campus was funded in part by a generous donation from former Vice President Dan Quayle.

What hasn’t changed is the quality of volleyball played by the Falcons.

They entered the season as two-time defending champion and Division V and state titlist in three of the last four campaigns.

After a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to open the gym, Veritas went out and served notice that it again will be a force by defeating visiting Division IV Tempe Prep 25-18, 25-10, 25-14.

Directly in the middle of all the action was junior setter Sarah Sponcil, The Arizona Republic’s reigning Small Schools Player of the Year.

When a big hit was needed, she was there. When a teammate needed to be set up, she did it. When a softer placement shot was called for, she made it, often putting the ball on the floor where opponents could not reach it.

“We wanted to come out and hit the ground running,’’ Sponcil said.

“It was a great atmosphere. We had not had much support in the past except for a few parents, but to have all of these people was great. It meant a lot.’’

It included a large student cheering section, which at times held up Sponcil’s picture and chanted, “We’ve got Sarah!!’’

Sponcil said it seemed strange at first.

“I tried not to get distracted,’’ she said.

Tempe Prep led 13-9 in the first game and had a 17-16 advantage, but Veritas outscored the Knights 9-1 the rest of the way and easily controlled the other two games.

Sponcil’s kills were powerful, and her placement was uncanny. She owed a lot of that, she said, to a summer of playing sand volleyball on the beach in California and winning a few events. She admitted she was able to get a good look at where her opponents were and sensed where they would or would not go.

“It’s not all about hitting (power). It’s about putting the ball down on the ground whatever way you can.’’

Veritas coach Wes Goodwin said that playing the first match of the season always is a concern, and this was no different.

“We’ve played Tempe Prep in the first match the last few years, and they’ve always been tough,’’ he said. “We wanted to come out and play well in this great new facility. We have been working so hard, pushing each other.’’

Sponcil said she and her teammates are ready for the challenge that comes with being a two-time defending champion.

“We have a huge target on our backs,’’ she said. “But we’re not just going to be able to slide on by, like everyone thinks. We have to work hard. We aren’t as tall as we were last year, so we will have to work on our defense, work on our blocking.’’