Chris Schaller is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sierra Linda High School for AZPreps365

Sierra Linda took the first set 25-10 and never looked back as the Bulldogs dominated Copper Canyon on Tuesday at Sierra Linda High School.

Sierra Linda was coming off of being swept 3-0 by Westview  last Thursday, and needed to come out to a quick start. 

“The first few points of the set are really crucial to building momentum,” Sierra Linda coach Alyssa Wertz said. “To be able to do that today was critical in coming out with a win.” 

The Bulldogs took the first set 25-10 thanks in large part to middle hitter Debanhi Aguiar, who  recorded four of her 13 kills in the first set.“

“She’s been our captain for two years,” Wertz said,  “And she really brings the it factor for our team.” 

Aguiar was certainly the most impactful player as she contributed heavily to the Bulldogs’ 25-17 second set and 25-22 third set victories. 

On the opposite side of the court, freshman middle hitter Saydi Poitier clocked in 11 kills and three blocks of her own.

“Everybody gets hyped when we see Deb swing,” Poitier said, “My job is to feed off of that and replicate that through myself.”

With the Aztecs staying on the Bulldogs’ heel in the second set, Sierra Linda turned to setter Valerie Villa to churn together a streak of four aces in a row.

 “Her serves are amazing,” Aguiar said. “She is our secret weapon when we need someone to come through.” 

Villa ballooned the Bulldog lead from 10-7 to 14-7.

The home crowd fed into the team’s dominating performance as the stands shook every time the Bulldogs served up a block, kill or an ace. 

“We feed off the crowd,” Poitier said,  “We play better with the energy created by the noise.”

The last set proved to be a tough test as the Bulldogs faltered, giving up a five-point lead but fighting back  to win 25-22. 

“You have to forget about the score,” Wertz said., “ Every point for us is 0-0 and at that point it’s see ball, hit ball and score.”

The Bulldogs benefited off of the Aztecs' 12 total errors in the game leading to Sierra Linda sweeping them in straight sets and only trailing once in the game at the beginning of the third set.

On the other side of the net, Copper Canyon came out in the first two sets lethargically, being outscored 50-23. Eventually the Aztecs showed signs of life in the third set as they knotted  the score at 20-20. They eventually conceded three of the Bulldogs’ next five points off of errors.. 

Sierra Linda (6-6)  jumped back into first place in the  5A Central Valley section. They will have an eight-day break as their next match will be at  Washington (3-5) next Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

Copper Canyon  (2-8) will host  Washington (3-5) at 6 p.m. Thursday.