Just six points into the match, Perry's student section broke into a chant usually reserved for near the final whistle:

“Start the buses! Start the buses!”

No disrespect to Saturday’s opponent, but Perry was simply that dominant this season. Mesa Mountain View knew it would be an uphill battle Saturday to defeat the Pumas in the 6A title tilt at Skyline High. 

Perry took command from the start and never looked back, sweeping Mountain View, 25-11, 25-18, 25-18, to defend its title and continue what has the potential to turn into a dynasty.

Perry started just one senior, an important one at that—libero Brady Breinholt. The Pumas established their dominance from the start when Tommy Henige slammed a Tate Higgns set in the middle that rattled the floor.

“The Hit Man” Henige is a 6-9 wunderkind who already committed to indoor volleyball mecca UCLA and carries USA National Volleyball experience. But top to bottom, Perry’s roster is loaded. 

There's talent, height, power, and athleticism. But there’s something else that makes this team great. 
“The one thing I want to make sure people understand about this team is how hard they work,” Perry coach Ryan Tolman said. "A lot of people just give you credit because they are good players, they are tall, and they are good athletes. But they will outwork anybody. They’ve done that their whole career the minute they stepped on the floor at Perry High School.”

The classy Tolman also made sure to applaud Mountain View’s greatness this season. 

He lauded the work of one of his best friends, Kevin Powell, Mountain View’s coach. 

“He coached those boys magically all year long,” Tolman said. "That is the best coaching I’ve seen in Arizona in a long time. If anybody out there has a vote for Coach of the Year, he’s the guy. He’s amazing.”

Powell sprinkled some of that magic when his team lost its first two sets in the semifinals against Sandra Day O’Connor, which defeated Powell’s team twice during the regular season. 

But Mountain View regrouped and pulled off an emotional and memorable reverse sweep to advance to the final.   

“For these guys to find a way to win, shows their grit and toughness,” said Powell about his team. “It’s fantastic. I’m so proud of them.”

Mesa Mountain View played some inspirational volleyball down the stretch. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)Even though Perry was the overwhelming favorite this year, there was some pressure this season and heading into Saturday’s match. 

Tolman “heard the noise” from the start about the target on his team’s back. 

“This match was tough because when you know what you’re supposed to do, and people tell you that you’re supposed to do it, actually doing it can sometimes be hard,” he said. 

Mountain View (33-8-1) exhibited that season-long grit at the start of the second game when Caleb Booth found an opening in Perry’s defense with a kill after a quick set in the middle. 

Mountain View had four of its five kills in the middle early in Game 2, when it went ahead 6-2. But Perry's assortment of weapons then helped it regain control.

Collin Morrissey had three kills and three blocks in the second game, and right side Zac Tomlinson also had three kills as well as a block. 

Junior outside Everett Wagner had nine kills unofficially to pick up MVP honors. Both teams were supported by a strong showing of fans, who were loud throughout the match. 

Perry's Everett Wagner (No. 10) earned MVP honors during Saturay's 6A final. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)Despite their team trailing 17-11 in the third game, Mountain View’s fans raised their level of cheering during a timeout. Their voices gave their team a boost, helping it score three consecutive points, leaving Mountain View trailing 22-18. 

That forced Perry to take its first and only timeout. When play resumed, Perry finished off the match and its 38-2-1 season. 

Perry didn’t lose to an Arizona team and dropped just two sets to in-state opponents this season. It was ranked 8th nationally by MaxPreps coming into the match. 

With the talent returning, Perry is capable of challenging California powers next year for top-ranking national status.    

Long Beach State commit Logan Gray and Breinholt are the two key seniors the team will lose. 

“I am going to miss them deeply,” Tolman said. “They are great leaders. They are great men. 
“They have meant a lot to us. I get a little emotional because I love those boys like my own." 

Breinholt is preparing to go on his two-year mission in July to El Salvador. 

“There was some pressure knowing that we were expected to win,” Breinholt said. “I’m proud of the team and the way we played. And they are going to be back next year. This program has been great. The coaches. The people. It’s brought me a whole bunch of new friends and family, and it’s been really awesome."