Parker Beh is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Tolleson Union High School for AZPreps365.com.

 

Pink streamers and wrapping hung from the entrance of the decked-out Wolverines home court inside Tolleson Union High School’s gymnasium. The Wolverines girl's volleyball team wore pink, black and white jerseys against West Point High School on October 21. 

Tolleson decorated its bleacher row handles in pink wrapping and bows to emulate the team’s pink-out game for breast cancer awareness, but it was not enough to top their rivals in the West Point Dragons.  

“I feel like part of the girls know that the season’s coming to an end, so they want to end on a strong note and they want to compete,” Tolleson’s head coach Hannah Milliken said after her squad’s 3-0 loss. 

The Wolverines entered the contest winning the last two of three games – over Kofa and Apollo high schools, 3-0. Despite getting swept by the Dragons, Tolleson kept the first and third set losses to two-point margins. Overall, West Point won each set 25-23, 25-13 and 25-23. 

West Point snapped its six-game losing streak in the victory over Tolleson. The Dragons’ fan base took over its portion of the bleachers with cowbells and chants ringing throughout the gymnasium. 

Dragons senior outside hitter Naiya Moala ended the game with double-digit kills. The 5-foot-9 right-hander came into the match 157 kills and was a player that Milliken’s staff gameplaned for.

“My defense did a pretty good job very early on,"  Milliken said.

Moala’s delivery sent dug out balls to the ceiling of the gymnasium, giving her side more time to set up to defend Tolleson’s attacks.

Wolverines junior middle blocker, Alek Ajak, said the West Point’s leader in kills pointed out her team’s weakness.

“She can hit a beautiful line and it showed tonight,” Ajak said.

However, Moala was not the only player who impressed Milliken.

“I think that some of the girls are just natural competitors,” Milliken said. “Like number 12 (Alek Ajak), she’s very competitive and it’s been showing out more and more.” 

The 5-foot-11 right-hander found the scoresheet in the serving ace, block and kill areas in the match. 

Wolverines senior outside hitter, Leah Millage, talked about the team’s mentality heading into their next matchup. 

“You have to come with the mentality that you’re going to win – or even if you’re not going to win, you’re going to be able to compete," Millage said.

In all, West Point improved to an 8-13 record and extended its win streak over Tolleson to six games. While the Wolverines fell 10 games under .500 to a 3-13 record, the two sides face each other to end the 2024-25 season at West Point High School on October 30, 2024, at 6 p.m.