Jack Connolly is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chandler Prep for AZPreps365.com.

GILBERT - San Tan Charter took care of Chandler Prep in four sets Thursday night after falling in the first set. 

The Titans squeezed out a tug-of-war 25-23 victory in the opening set, but the Roadrunners took the next three sets, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-12. 

The Roadrunners found themselves in unfamiliar territory after dropping the first set, only the seventh time that has happened all year.

“As a coach, I strive to keep calm in those situations, give them the adjustments to make and reassure them,” San Tan Charter first-year coach Kristal Harris said. “Skill-wise, we are right there with the best teams in 2A, and I am proud of the way we showed it tonight.”

The win gives the Roadrunners a slight edge over the Titans in the loss column in 2A East, as San Tan Charter remains undefeated in region play. 

It was a clash of runs in the first set. San Tan Charter jumped out to a 5-1 lead early. Then the Titans built a 15-10 advantage, following a 10-3 run, with junior setter Hannah Fox contributing three consecutive aces. Fox’s 23 aces on the season rank inside the top 10 in the 2A East Region. 

In the first set, a Titans attacking error sparked an 8-0 spurt for the Roadrunners. Trailing 19-15, Chandler Prep got back into the match with a 3-0 run, thanks to kills by senior outside hitter Roxy Mason and sophomore middle hitter Tehya Ajei, plus a four-hit violation. 

Late in the first set, Chandler Prep sophomore opposite hitter Bria Ames added an ace and one of her two kills in the match, and that along with sophomore outside hitter Madeline Yates’ clinching-kill to the deep right corner provided a 25-23 win. 

The second set resembled the first’s back-and-forth tempo, with six lead changes and late-set drama. Knotted at 22 apiece, Chandler Prep junior middle blocker Mikky Dunmar’s kill put the Titans in front 23-22, forcing Harris to call the Roadrunners' first timeout of the set. 

San Tan Charter responded with a 3-0 surge to clinch the second set, 25-23, punctuated with an ace by junior setter Ella Shoap. Shoap finished the match with six kills and five aces. She leads the 2A East Region with 47 aces.

“To feel the energy after a win like this is unmatched,” Shoap said. “The hype that we had from start to finish tonight is something we can take with us moving forward.”

The Roadrunners never looked back after breaking through in the second set. They raced out to a 6-1 lead in the third set. Ajei played well defensively and on the attack for the Titans, tallying three kills and a block. 

The third set was 14-14 before the Roadrunners generated an 8-2 run to go up 22-16. Ajei and Fox contributed on a joint block at the net to slow down the Roadrunners. A 3-0 Titan run ensued to trim their deficit to 22-19, but the Roadrunners held on to win the third set 25-22. 

The Titans kept pace early in the fourth set. However, the Roadrunners buried the Titans with a 14-2 run, cruising to a 25-12 victory.

“We need more discipline,” Chandler Prep coach Courtnee Oglesby said. “We had some good moments, but our lack of discipline hurt us in all aspects of the match.”

Chandler Prep (4-4) will host Scottsdale Christian (7-0) on Monday at 6 p.m., while San Tan Charter (8-1) will visit Highland Prep West (4-4) on Tuesday at 5 p.m.