Milexa Cardona  is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover West Point HIgh School for AZPreps365.com

The West Point girls volleyball team swept Marana in straight sets Thursday night, 25-23, 25-14, 25-23. 

Marana held West Point at a 0-5 deficit to start the first set as the Dragons combined for three consecutive hitting errors followed by a Marana kill and ace. 

“Being down in the score is something that we kind of practice,” West Point coach Monique Jones said. “Our serve receive is what hinders us in some rallies, especially in the start of the game. But I think we adjusted. We pulled back some players that needed to be pulled back.”

The Dragons rallied their way back, going on a five-point run made up of back-to-back kills from junior middle blocker Tori Truluck and senior outside hitter Melena'a Moala. 

Senior setter Ahnacelli Allan added a pair of aces to take their first lead of the set, 12-11. 

“We really complement each other,” Truluck said. “We just need to be really energetic even when we’re down. Just keep faking it till you make it.” 

Truluck’s method proved to be adequate as the Dragons outlasted the Tigers to finish the first set 25-23. 

The second set had a similar start, though it was the Tigers who were held scoreless at 4-0, then again when the Dragons went on a six-point run leaving Marana to trail, 12-4. 

“I think our motivation and our energy was way stronger in the first set than in the second set,” Marana coach Alexa Balderas said. “It was almost like a mental defeat.” 

Despite losing set two, 25-14, Balderas thought her team showed promise towards the end of the set. 

“I think they pulled through towards the end of the second set and mentally started to pick it up, but by then it was a little bit too late,” she said.

The third set was a fierce battle as both teams fought relentlessly, neither team allowing more than a four-point lead the entire set. 

“I think we talked about having some sort of urgency and practicing that coming from the Epic Tournament and our game against Valley Vista,” Jones said. “We just needed to get back to the basics and get back to playing West Point volleyball and that’s what we did, and we fought til the end.” 

West Point called a timeout at 16-17 where Jones said, “Relax. Take a deep breath. We’ve been here before.” 

The Dragons went on a six-point run led by junior outside hitter Noemi Torres, who was an offensive threat with three kills combined with two aces by senior defensive specialist, Lea Hernandez and a momentous block by Truluck. 

 “When I feel I’m on fire, any chance I get I go for the kill,” Torres said. 

West Point won set three, 25-23.

The match was an offensive battle as  the Dragons finished  with 28 kills and the Tigers had 26 kills. 

Senior outside hitter Moala, who is averaging 3.7 kills per set and ranked third in kills in the 6A West Valley region, led the match with 10 kills. 

“The support from my teammates and also the support from my family in the stands is what motivates me,” Moala said. “I always pray before every game so that makes me push harder.”

West Point will play at  Apollo on Tuesday at 6 p.m. 

Marana will host  Rincon on Tuesday at 6 p.m.