The Gators
(38-3) will play a semifinal match on Tuesday (Nov. 7) at Gilbert Mesquite
against fifth-seeded Gilbert Perry (36-6). First serve is at 6:30 p.m. Perry
defeated No. 4 seed Goodyear Millennium 3-2.
Xavier
played Perry twice this season and had hard-earned five-set victories in both.
The Xavier
match will be preceded by the other semifinal at 5 p.m. between second-seeded,
defending champion Tempe Corona del Sol (40-2) and No. 3 Tempe district rival
Phoenix Mountain Pointe (36-7). Corona del Sol defeated No. 7 Phoenix Horizon
3-0 in its quarterfinal and Mountain Pointe had to rally after dropping the
first two sets for a 3-2 win over No. 6 Chandler Hamilton.
Xavier had
struggled with inconsistency in its opening 3-0 win over No. 16 Glendale
Mountain Ridge on Tuesday night (Oct. 31), but against Sandra Day O’Connor was on
more of an even keel.
“We were
much more focused,’’ said Xavier coach Lamar-Renee Bryant. “We respected our
opponent and knew they were capable of playing well.’’
Bryant said
the Gators’ serving was much better than it had been and the ball was
distributed in a more proficient manner.
Junior
outside hitter Trinity Cavanaugh was a factor most of the way, and senior
middle blocker Alexis Diaz-Infante had a strong effort in the decisive third
game with her kill shots as well as blocks on the defensive side.
“Trinity
played great and Alexis gave us a real spark,’’ Bryant said.
“It takes a
whole team effort to win. At any time on any day, you have to be able to step
up when your number is called.’’
Cavanaugh
had a couple of key kills in the opening game and sophomore middle blocker
Jasmine Knight provided a big power shot.
In the
second game, Sandra Day O’Connor led in the early moments. The Gators pulled
even and then ahead, but still could not shake the Eagles.
Sandra Day
O’Connor was within 23-22 after a Xavier block when out of bounds, but the
Gators got the last two points on a kill by senior outside hitter Lanie Wagner
and too long of a return by the Eagles.
The Eagles jumped
out to an early 4-1 lead in the third game, including a couple of service aces. Xavier went ahead
7-6 on a kill by Wagner and never trailed again.
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