The only team close to Seton Catholic's volleyball team in the 4A Desert Sky Region this season was Marcos de Niza. But for the second time in two weeks, Seton showed a decided edge over the Padres.

Starting out fast in the opening set, rallying to win the second and controlling the third, #2 Seton won the region title outright with a 25-16, 27-25, 25-16 victory over #6 Marcos de Niza on Senior Night at Seton.

Seton will be no worse than the No. 2 seed at state and play its first state playoff match on Tuesday Oct. 30 at home. Marcos de Niza should remain in the top 8 of the power-rankings despite the loss. The Padres also open at home on Oct. 30 as the top eight seeds are exempt from the play-in round.

Seton finishes the regular season 29-7 overall and 10-0 in region. The Sentinels also sport a 17-0 record in power-ranking matches. Marcos de Niza handled everyone else in the region, finishing 24-8 overall, 8-2 region and 14-3 power-ranking play.

"We came out ready to play from the start," Seton coach Patti Schoenhardt said. "The girls had fun. If something needed to be fixed on the court, they knew what it was and how to fix it."

The teams met Oct. 4 at Marcos de Niza and it was Seton's night then -- albeit it closer one - with a 25-23, 25-23, 25-16 victory. The Sentinels made Marcos uneasy from the get-go in the rematch, zooming to an 8-0 lead in the opening set. The impetus was the serving of senior Mia Vega who served all eight points, mixing up her serves and notching two aces in the spree. Marcos got not closer than five points in the set.

The second set tested the teams at crunch time. Marcos led the majority of the set with its largest lead four points. A kill by Marcos de Niza senior middle Elyse Olson put the Padres up 22-19 and coaxed a timeout from Seton. Seton countered with a 5-0 run that set up set point, but a kill by the Padres Katy Johnson evened things at 24.

Marcos had one chance at set point up 25-24, but an attack error tied the set a final time. Seton's block netted the final two points with Skyelar Clubb, Leighton Gagnon and Clara Christensen doing the damage in tandem.

The final set saw Seton pull away mid-set. A 12-3 run by the Sentinels to close snapped a tie and ensured a region-title banner will be on order later this fall.

Seton's attack was led unofficially by Leighton Gagnon with seven kills and four each by Jessica Kuras, Emily Dutton and Nicole Fullmer. Top hitters for Marcos de Niza unofficially Johnson and Olivia Craig with six apiece. Hailey White added four.