Xavier players pysche themselves up for 5thset they prevailed in to top Perry on Wednesday (AZPreps365 photo)

 

Top-ranked Xavier Prep's volleyball team was forced to scratch and claw its way back to defeat No. 5 Perry a month ago in five sets. The Gators dropped the first two sets and won the next three - the decisive set, 15-13.

It was a little different five-set affair Wednesday night as the teams alternated wins the first four sets before Xavier produced as its coach knows it can in the fifth to down Perry, 26-24, 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-9 in a 6A contest at Xavier's Activity Center.

"It took a village to win this match," Xavier coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said. "We struggled at times, but the last set we had it together. We passed it better, served it tougher. We were in system the whole set."

Xavier officially clinched the Premier Region crown, improving its overall record to 33-3, its power-ranking mark to 15-0 and its region record to 6-0. Perry, which was fresh off a huge out-of-state tournament triumph in California last weekend, dropped to 31-6, 10-4 prm and 3-3 in region.

Perry forced the fifth set after eeking out the fourth -- a set that neither team led by more than two save the final score. Senior outside Ryann Davis and senior middle Kennedy Kaminsky combined for nine kills in the set.

The bit of momentum Perry gained by winning the fourth was tested quickly in the fifth. Xavier opened with an ace and Davis followed with a hitting error. But a few sideouts later the match was even at 5 with Perry scoring a point helped by a kick save and ultimately a Davis kill. That was the final tie of the evening.

Xavier's Ashley Young sent a serve down the left baseline that was ruled in much to the dismay of the Perry faithful. That began a decisive 7-1 runand openinga 12-6 lead. Two kills by senior Lanie Wagner, a block from senior Ericka Snopka and an ace by Trinity Cavanaugh were the notable plays. The match ended much the way it began with Xavier sophomore outside Briana McKnight on fire. McKnight had nine kills in the opening set and tallied the match's final three points with the same.

Xavier's attack -- both teams for that matter - was varied. The Gators were led by McKnight with 19 kills and outside Lanie Wagner with 16 kills and 14 digs. Balancing out the offense were middle Snopka (9 kills), sophomore middle Jasmine Knight (7 kills) and freshman outside Serena Turner (7 kills). Feeding the attackers was junior setter Shannon Shields (47 assists). Senior libero Alyna Draper had 17 digs.

Perry's top attackers for the season lived up to their stats. Davis led with 18 kills and senior outside Lexi Keith added 10 kills .Junior middle Grace Doyle ws quite effective turing in nine kills and seven blocks.