(Sunnyslope's volleyball program continued its winning ways, claiming the Golwater Tournament title Saturday. Photo courtesy of Sunnyslope.)

Too bad Sunnyslope’s girls volleyball parents can’t invite more folks over to their pregame and postgame bashes.

We hear they have a good spread of food. But the real winners in the get-togethers are the players, who feed off the camaraderie.

“I think this team is one of the closest teams I’ve ever had and that also goes for our parents,” Sunnyslope’s head coach Amber LeTarte said. “They have pregame meals during every home game and postgame parties. We are one big family.”

LeTarte knows a thing or two about directing talented teams, having coached six state championship teams in her nine seasons at her alma mater, Sunnyslope.

This year, Sunnyslope (23-3) is once again chopping up opponents. The team is coming off a Goldwater Festival tournament championship victory over another Division II contender, Ironwood Ridge of Tucson.

Despite winning one of the state’s top regular season titles, Sunnyslope isn’t resting on its laurels. On Monday, the tempo of its offense picked up as LeTarte installed new plays for the second half of Sunnyslope’s season.

Changing gears during the season is possible when one of the state’s elite setters, Katie Oleksak, is on your team. Oleksak is headed to Colorado State and already helped her club team accomplish a rare feat for Arizona by winning consecutive open national club championships.

Patrolling the middle for Sunnyslope is junior Emma Wright, a Wichita State University commit who’s learning that being aggressive pays off.

On the outside, Skylar Wine (University of Pacific) has raised her level of play, allowing her to put away sets more consistently and play more in the back row. Adding to the family atmosphere at Sunnyslope are the Fleury sisters, Molly, a senior libero captain, and opposite hitter Libby.

Sunnyslope will likely continue to be a favorite next season since eight of its 15 players are juniors. But the focus is currently on this year’s tight-knit team and the 2014 season.

“We have great kids that want to work together and succeed as a unit,” LeTarte said. “I really feel super blessed.”

But there’s another team, Ironwood Ridge, that Sunnyslope is keeping a close eye on.

The Tucson team may have lost in the final to Sunnyslope, but Ironwood Ridge did beat Sunnyslope during pool play. That was the first time that it beat Sunnyslope in Ironwood Ridge’s history.

Ironwood Ridge finished 8-1 at Goldwater despite missing one of its outside weapons for one day, Aunesty Jantz, who went on a recruiting trip to the school she committed to, Regis University. Jantz returned on Saturday for the final day of the tournament and totaled 40 kills and 23 digs.

Making sure Ironwood Ridge didn’t skip a beat on the outside while Jantz was gone was Sarah Gosciminski (57 kills, 47 digs during Goldwater). Like Sunnyslope, Ironwood Ridge (16-1) also has a stalwart at setter, Jordan Weatherless, and skilled liberos, Courtney Linaker and Karissa Carney.