It's not unheard of to lose the first two games of a volleyball match and come back and win the next three. Hard to do, but not impossible.

Given the manner in which Gilbert High dropped the first two games of Tuesday night's season-opening match with Basha,  it would have been hard to give the visiting Tigers a chance. Especially after a gut-wrenching 37-35 loss in the second game.

Somehow Gilbert collected itself and reeled off wins in the final three games to open its season with a 3-2 victory over the host Bears at Basha High. Scores were 15-25, 35-37, 25-13, 25-19 and 15-7.

"Never been in a game with that score, it's rare to get to 30," Gilbert coach Joe Hesse said. "That was a great game, and a good match. We had two swings to win the second game, and were up 20-15 (17). It was tough to lose."

Gilbert, however, has a pair of elite players that rose to the occasion to spark the victory. Senior Macey Gardner and junior Penina Snuka, both outside hitters and all-around talents, kicked into high gear after slow starts and in the end could not be stopped. Gardner finished with 29 kills and 19 digs. Snuka chiipped in 22 kills and 11 digs.

Gardner, who missed a good part of last season with a leg injury and wasn't close to 100 percent until late in the season, showed why she is one of the state's best. Snuka is right there with Gardner after taking on a flloor leadership role last year with her play as a sophomore.

"Basha had the best player in the gym the first hour, and the last few we had a couple step up," Hesse said. "After the second game we talked about being consistent. Not just creating the emotional point. Our mental capacity changed. We got more confident as we started coming back."

Gilbert trailed just one time early in Game 3 and pulled away to a double-digit lead in Game 4. Basha coach Jim Kann rested a couple of his standouts -- Kehau Baker and McKayla Ferris -- as Gilbert surged in Game 4.

Game 5 was all Gilbert as the Tigers took advantage of three Basha misserves early and became more aggressive with their own serving.

"We put a lot of effort in those first two games," Kann said. "Game 3 they chaanged their serves, and it took us out of our system....... We got their attention the first two games. But at the same time we woke the big dogs. We knew where the ball was going, but there was not stopping them. They got more confident, and we got more tentative."

Ferris finished with 16 kills and Baker added 11 for Basha. Teammate Sydnee Arnson had 35 assists. Basha visits Desert Ridge on Wednesday while Gilbert goes on the road again to face intracity rival Highland.