Time is running out on the volleyball season, but there is still time for Marcos de Niza to wedge its way to postseason.

Marcos kept faint hopes alive for an automatic section berth and an at-large berth as well Thursday night by sweeping visiting McClintock, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21 in a Division II match.

Marcos de Niza played three matches this week, won two of three and has tirumphed in five of its last six to improve its overall record to 22-10 and 12-4 in power-ranking matches. It will be power-ranking matches or its standing in D-II Section 3 that determines whether or not Scott Miller's squad plasy any matches beyondOoct. 29 -- Marcos' season finale at home against Arcadia.

"We need to go out and win that match and then see what happens," Miller said. "Would 13-4 be good enough? I don't know. All we can do is play it and wait."

Marcos de Niza was 18th in the current power rankings prior to play Thursday night. The Lady Padres played very well in finishing off McClintock, particulary with its blocking and defense.

"Blocking has a been a strength of ours this seasoh," Miller said.. "We've had several matches with 10 blocks or more this year."

Senior outside hitter Jorie Mayfield had a good match for Marcos, contributing 7 kills and 4 1/2 blocks. Middles Aubrey Boyles, Danielle Granado and Reagan Griffith also managed to frustrate McClintock's attack. McClintock played without one of its top two hitters, Lianna Jones, who sat out with a sore knee.

Marcos de Niza never trailed in the first set and only 2-0 in the second set. McClintock managed a trio of three-point leads in the third set, but lost each of them as quickly as it built them. Marcos was at its best when it reached the 20-point mark of each set pulling away from a two-point lead or tie in the latter two sets with a winning run.

Broyles, who led Marcos with 10 kills, did most of her damage on tips on the net. She did let loose in he final set with a powerful attack that snapped a 20-20 tie and led directly to the match's conclusion. Granado chipped in with 7 kills.  

"It hurt not having (Jones), but they did a great job blocking," McClintock coach Jeff Dun said. "They made it tough on us."

McClintock (16-14 overall, 9-7 power-ranking matches) never seemed to get in a flow without Jones and the residue of a five-set loss in Prescott on Wednesday night.

"We were tired, didn't have much intensity," Dunn said. "But they were playing their third match in three days. That's no excuse."

McClintock, which struggled on the attack with numerous hitting errors and Marcos de Niza's block, was led in hitting by senior Rachel Fagerburg with nine kills.