By Ryan Wright

The Cienega Bobcats (24-10, 7-0) captured the Division II, Section I title Thursday, as they hit the road and scored a 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17 victory over the Rincon Rangers (17-11, 6-1).

Both teams came into the match undefeated in section play, and the Rincon gymnasium had a playoff-type atmosphere throughout the entire contest.

Each team was anchored by a highly-skilled junior setter, as Mclain Mott led the way for the Bobcats, and Joey Cable took charge for the Rangers.

Mott assisted on 41 of his team’s 52 kills, adding nine kills to go along with three blocks and three digs.

Cable assisted on 29 of his team’s 44 kills and also finished with nine digs.

The longest volley of the match took place in the third set with Rincon leading 8-5, as both teams possessed the ball six times before Cienega scored a point on a ball hit into the net by Rincon.

Also in the third set, Rincon senior captain Brian Guerrero recorded the most powerful block of the match, sending an attack from Cienega senior Frankie Trujillo forcefully back to the floor to put the Rangers up 13-7.

Guerrero finished with 16 kills, six digs and two blocks.

Trujillo got his revenge on the very next point as he scored a ferocious kill near the feet of Guerrero, igniting the Cienega supporters in the crowd.

Trujillo ended the match with five kills and a block.

Up 10-8 in the fourth set, the Bobcats went on an 8-0 run behind the serving of freshman Ethan Iago, all but putting an end to the Rangers’ chances of a comeback.

Cienega senior Walker Frighetti tallied 15 kills and five digs, while senior Isaiah Murphy racked up nine kills and six blocks. Senior Dallin Henderson also made his presence felt with 11 digs.

Rincon senior captain Diego Silva added 17 kills, three blocks and an ace, and freshman Luis Rocha pitched in with ten digs.

Cienega will close out the regular season at home against the Buena Colts (11-6, 4-2) on May 3, while Rincon will look the end the season with a win on the road against the Sahuaro Cougars (16-6, 6-1) the same night.

Ryan Wright is a sports journalism student at Arizona State.