Corona del Sol has proven in its first two matches tof 2018 that it's resilient if nothing else. However, there is something else. The Aztecs are 2-0.

A program that's graduated 18 seniors the last two years from 6A title and 6A runner-up squads found a way to come from behind and defeat last year's 5A state runner-up Queen Creek, 3-1, at Sammy Duane Gym and Larry Hughes Court. Scores were 20-25, 28-26, 25-23 and 25-23. As an added bonus it was a 6A Central Region win, as Queen Creek is new to 6A this year and the Central Region.

"We're very young, but no matter what they keep working hard," Corona del Sol coach Ben Maxfield said. "We served very well and I think that took them out of system. If you let them stay in system they are tough to beat."

Maxfield sent out three returning starters -- all juniors --two more juniors and two freshmen for his initial lineup. The returning starters were hitter Mady Noble, libero Becca Morse and middle Sadie McRae. The junior newcomers hitter Nicole Newlin and Rachael Mertes. The freshmen -- setter Anita Babic and middle blocker Natalie Meyer. All found from the opener that they were down, but not out.

In Corona's match Tuesday, the Aztecs dropped the first two sets to Liberty and won the last three. Wednesday appeared it might be similar as Queen Creek with a bunch of veteran hitters back won the first set and led 10-3 early in the second. Corona led only three times in the second set-- 25-24, 26-25 and finally 28-26 when it counted most.  McRae finished the set with a kill.

The third set was nearly a carbon copy with Queen Creek's biggest margin later in the set at 17-9. Corona took the lead for the first time 21-20 and led to the finish of the set. Corona controlled the final set and led all the way save a couple ties. Meyer completed a fine second showing by tallying match point.

Leading the way was the squad's most experienced player, Noble, in her third varsity season. Noble collected 17 kills. She had only two in the first set. Newlin, who led the junior varsity in kills last year, was next with 12 kills and Meyer added 10 kills and five blocks. Babic posted 38 assists and Morse 44 digs. The only eligible senior -- Kacie McCain produced 10 digs off the bench.

Queen Creek, (1-1), which opened the season Tuesday with a 3-0 romp over Shadow Ridge, was led by versatile, all-round talent Kate Grimmer . Grimmer registered a match-high 22 kills. Junior Jaelyn Hodge added 11 kills. Grimmer is a BYU commit and Hodge haas committed to Arizona.