Noah Reed is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Veritas Prep Academy for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – Star siblings help Veritas Prep Academy volleyball sweep the Arizona Lutheran Coyotes 3-0 in the battle of 2A Valley Region programs Tuesday.

Senior Mary Hamman and sophomore Grace Hamann led the charge for the Falcons (16-10), assisting the team for their second region victory. The duo helped defeat Arizona Lutheran’s (7-15) own set of senior sisters: Emma Drexler and Elie Drexler.

“We have proved to ourselves that we have that capability to come back,” Mary Hamann said. “Even if we're down.”

Arizona Lutheran jumped ahead 7-3 to start set one, after Mary Hamann recorded several attacking errors. Mary Hamann rebounded quickly, notching six points to help the Veritas Prep claim the set 25-14.

“We definitely could have done better,” Mary Hamann said. “There were some things that I know we can do better. There are a couple free balls that we didn't put on target, that I know we have capability to do.”

Mary Hamann recorded 16 kills in three sets, falling three short of a career milestone of 1,000 kills. When the senior eclipses this mark, she will become the third Veritas Prep athlete to accomplish the feat.

“I'm more grateful for the experience that got me to that (number),” Mary Hamann said. “All the hard work and the hard lessons that I've had to learn to have that discipline to be able to get there.”

Grace Hamann followed suit of her sister, adding five kills of her own to aid the Falcons in taking the final set 25-16.

“(Mary’s) definitely gonna hit (1,000 kills),” Grace Hamann said. “It's gonna be great. She's worked really hard for it.”

Falcon freshman Harper Perrault made noise during the second set, serving up one ace and then scoring the kill on set point. In her first season with Veritas Prep, Perrault sits second in blocks.

The Falcons have a quick turnaround into their matchup against the St. John Paul II Catholic Cardinals. First serve is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 1 in the Large Competition Gymnasium.

One issue Arizona Lutheran faced in 2025 is inexperience. With a relatively young roster filled by three freshmen and two sophomores, the Drexler twins were tasked with leading the team.

“We try to do our best to encourage them as best we can, ” Elie Drexler said. According to Elie Drexler, the goal is to teach how to shake off scary moments for the more untested teammates.

“We didn't quite come out with a whole lot of energy tonight,” Arizona Lutheran head coach Brad Bode said. “No school yesterday and a long weekend probably doesn't help.”

The Coyotes mounted a charge early in the third set, staying within three to five points of the Falcons. However, the team was hampered by service errors on four consecutive possessions.

“We struggled with serving this year,” Bode said. “We're trying to get that goal of a solid 90%, and we serve aggressively. So, we know that there are some errors that will happen. As long as they're aggressive service errors, then I'm okay. 

“But a lot of times this year, we're not really aggressive service areas.”

The Coyotes next battle is no easier, facing 2A Valley leader Phoenix Country Day on Wednesday.

“We've run the gauntlet so far in 2A,” Bode said. “But we've been there before last year, and we knew what to expect this year.”