Two of the state's winningest volleyball coaches met in a regular season (non-invitational) match for the first time Tuesday night. The team with the most experience prevailed.

That was Horizon, coached by its only coach in school history, Valorie McKenzie. The Huskies were the better team throughout in recording a sweep of visiting Ironwood Ridge and its prolific coach Bill Lang (boys and girls volleyball). Scores were 25-17, 25-14 and 25-21.

McKenzie, beginning her 39th year, notched career victory No. 885. The way her team looked Tuesday, it's likely win No. 900 won't be long in coming. Lang, who has won 655 games (boys and girls combined -- 437 guiding girls), was a bit at a deficit in this one in terms of solid varsity experience. The last time the school's met in a meaningful match was the 2009 5A-II semifinals. Horizon came out victorious that da. A memory still and forever etched in Lang's mind.

"We were up 2-0 and 24-19 in the third set," Lang said. "They came back and beat us and then went on to win the championship."

This loss wasn't the magnitude of that one. It's only the first match of the season, but a bit of a disappointing takeaway from Lang's perspective.

"We have a long way to go and short time to get there as the song goes," Lang said. "I've known Valorie my whole career. She's one of the best ever. Horizon did a great job controlling the match. We played like we were on an awkward first date. It''s an indication of a young team. Part of it is not having a setter we've decided on. It's the first time since 2005 that's happened for us. We used a different setter in every set. Trying to get a look and see where we're at."

While Ironwood Ridge featured two starters from last year who served in that capacity all year, a couple others received extended time due to season-ending injuries to four others. That experience didn't match Horizon's four returning starters -- senior setter Claire Smith, senior middle Alyssa Unell, junior outside hitter Jozlyn Byers and junior middle Ashleigh Barto. Three of the four registered solid opening-match stats for the rather short match. Byers registered a team-high 10 kills and added seven digs. Barto checked in with four kills, six blocks and two aces. Smith contributed 22 assists.All 12 of Horizon's players saw playing time.

"The first game I'm going to get them in, see how they handle situations and how they respond" McKenzie said. "They all worked hard in practice. I was happy overall with how we played."

As most first matches go, the first 10 to 15 points are a feeling out process. Horizon trailed by three a couple times early, but with a 15-13 lead ran off went on a 5-0 run to break open the opening set. The Huskies never trailed in the second set and the lone tie of the set was 11-11. McKenzie made most of her substitutions in the final set, one in which Ironwood Ridge led the first nine points. A 12-3 run put Horizon up 21-12. Ironwood Ridge closed the gap to 22-21, but two kills by Byers and a hitting error by Ironwood Ridge finished the match.

Ironwood Ridge was led on the attack by senior outside hitter Katie Burtcil with 12 kills and senior middle-outside Sydney Baumgardner and junior outside Andrea Vigil German with five kills apiece. Both schools play again on Thursday with Horizon visiting Pinnacle and Ironwood Ridge playing host to Notre Dame Prep.