(Highland's boys volleyball team won Brophy's tournament Saturday. Photo by Jose Garcia/aia365.com)

It’s a good thing that Highland’s Vee Hiapo is a good boys volleyball coach and not a movie buff.

To motivate her team near the final game of Brophy’s invitational championship match, Hiapo told her boys to “take no prisoners” during a timeout. She then asked her boys if they knew what movie the “take no prisoners” line came from.

The players and Hiapo didn’t know and neither did the reporters Hiapo asked after the match. Hiapo's question led to a couple of chuckles from the coach and her players during the timeout.

Her message did get across Saturday, however, as Highland finished off Desert Vista in Game 3 to win the final big regular season tournament of the boys volleyball season. Highland rallied for the second time in as many days against Desert Vista to win 23-25, 25-23, 15-9 and head into the final days of the regular season with a lot of momentum.

The lessons Highland learned in Hawaii during a recent tournament were applied against the state title contenders that competed during Brophy’s two-day tournament. Highland didn’t close out strongly, costing it a chance to upset a couple of nationally ranked teams in Hawaii.

Other than Game 1, when Highland committed five service errors and a net violation to end that game, Highland executed when it counted at the end of Game 2 and 3.

“They (Highland) have learned and grown a lot in the last two weeks,” Hiapo said.

Desert Vista also won the first game when it played Highland at Brophy on Friday, but unlike Friday, Desert Vista put up a better fight Saturday.

Desert Vista’s strength is in the middle, but it also starts a dependable outside hitter in Drake Moran. Highland is a bit more unpredictable and runs a quick offense that keeps teams on their toes.

Highland had success with its slide kills, mostly by tournament MVP Ryan Morrison, to the right side on Friday and Saturday against Desert Vista. But Highland relies on more than just one player.

Colin Ward (36 assists) helped four of his hitters, including Sean Chapman, Jared Greene and Hayden Nielson, each finish with seven kills or more. Morrison had a team-high 15 kills for Highland (20-5-1).

Game 3 was tied 6-6 when Highland went on a mini 3-0 run thanks to a Desert Vista serving error, two aces by Greene, and a block by Nielson and Wendel Wells. That helped give Highland the cushion it needed to keep Desert Vista from tying the match again.

Highland was leading 21-19 in second game when it got a bit testy on the sideline. Hiapo received a yellow caution card from the down official for stopping the flow of the match while arguing a call.

Desert Vista (20-7-1) scored the next two points, but two slide kills by Morrison, a Nielson kill off a block and a passing error gave Highland the final four points it needed to win that game.