Nia Wagner is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert Christian High School for AZPreps365.com

The No. 1-ranked Gilbert Christian Knights swept the visiting Blue Ridge Yellowjackets, 25-20, 25-17, 25-16, on Wednesday night to win the 3A Metro Mountain region title and finish 15-0 in conference play. 

The match was the last of the regular season and senior night. Before the first serve, the Knights (29-1) honored their graduating seniors, Lillie Duitsman and Ashley Gast. 

“It's definitely really bittersweet,” Gast said. “The amount of love and care that this team has for each other is out of this world and I'm going to remember it for the rest of my life.”

Gilbert Christian coach Ashley Ahlman presented flowers to both seniors, who were surrounded by their families and reflected on their careers as teammates cheered and wiped away tears.

“I’m really grateful for the leaders that they are, and the hearts that they bring to the program and to practice every day,” Ahlman said.

The Knights led the match from start to finish, taking the first set 25-20. They held Blue Ridge to 17 points in the second set and 16 in the third. Sophomore setter Quinn Ehler’s nine-point serving run helped them open the final set with a 9-2 lead, forcing the Yellowjackets to call a timeout.

Duitsman, a senior outside hitter and team captain who is committed to play beach volleyball at Grand Canyon University beginning in fall 2027, led the Knights with 24 kills, one ace and one block.

“It's definitely been a lot of emotions,” Duitsman said. “These are all my best friends, so it's really hard to think about not being with them next year, but I'm super grateful for Gilbert Christian helping me grow in so many different aspects of my life.” 

Ehler finished with five aces, while freshman outside hitter Ashlyn Moore added seven kills, two service aces and a block. Junior outside hitter and defensive specialist Nyleah Ahlman recorded three aces.

“It's at the point where we have no regrets and we just leave it all out there every game, because we have nothing to lose,” Duitsman said.

In her first year as head coach, Ahlman said the Knights' perfect run surpassed her expectations.

“At the beginning of the season, if you would have told me that, I don't know if I would have believed you, but these girls, they make it look easy,” Ahlman said. “They just know how to compete and I'm excited to see what the rest of these last two and a half weeks hold.”

The Knights finished the 2025 season with a 10-2 conference record and lost in the the 3A state tournament semifinals. Ahlman has led the Knights to the top of the 3A conference rankings all season, while keeping the team focused on consistency. 

“The key is keeping it simple, but dreaming big,” Ahlman said. “Staying fundamentally focused, continuing to work hard, and honestly, sky is the limit.”

Blue Ridge scoring was led by junior outside hitters Noelle Harris and Chloe York. Harris had nine kills and two blocks, while York recorded six kills, two aces and a block. The loss left the Yellowjackets sixth in their conference with an 8-6 record. Blue Ridge is projected to be ranked No. 8 in the tournament and play the No. 9 seed.

The Knights now turn their focus to the first round of the state tournament, hosting the No. 16 seed at 6 p.m. Nov. 5. 

“Finishing first is great, but that just means that the target on our back is much bigger and everyone wants to knock off the number one seed,” Ahlman said.