Will it
happen?
We will find
out on Thursday night (Nov. 9), when the top-seeded Gators face No. 2 seed and
defending champion Tempe Corona del Sol at Gilbert Mesquite. First serve is
7:30 p.m.
“They don’t
just hand out trophies to everyone. You have to earn it,’’ Bryant said.
Whichever
team wins, they certainly will have earned it. This match offers one of the
most highly anticipated pairings of the year or any year.
Both teams
left every ounce of energy on the floor in the semifinals on Wednesday night
(Nov. 7).
Xavier was
stretched to five games against No. 5 Gilbert Perry for the third time this
season, and the result was the same – a 3-2 victory by the Gators.
And Corona
del Sol’s 3-2 victory over No. 3 Phoenix Mountain Pointe came after Corona del
Sol extricated itself from a 0-2 hole.
Xavier (39-3)
and Corona del Sol (41-2) will have plenty of motivation against each other.
Xavier’s
quest for the 2016 title ended in the semifinals against Corona del Sol, so the
Gators aim to atone for that. Xavier did get a bit of revenge earlier this
season with victories over the Aztecs in the Nike Tournament of Champions and
the Gilbert Invitational tournaments. Those were Corona del Sol’s only losses
of the season.
Scores for
Xavier against Perry were 23-25, 25-15, 25-20, 20-25 and 15-11.
“We knew it
would be a battle. Perry is such a great team,’’ Bryant said. “But we were able
to take care of business when we needed to.’’
News of the
Gators’ success traveled fast. As she was being interviewed after the game,
Bryant took a call from Kristen Largay, a former libero for Xavier who now is
playing for American University in Washington, D.C.
“Once a
Gator, always a Gator,’’ Bryant said.
Given what
is at stake against Corona del Sol, Bryant is going to need each member of the
team to step up their play, as they did against Perry.
Sophomore
outside hitter Bri McKnight put the Gators on her shoulders at various points
of the match. She was particularly tough in the fifth and deciding game, having
three kills in a row and providing a key service ace.
Senior
libero Alyna Draper and junior libero/defensive specialist Ashley Yeung kept
things alive for the Gators with their work along the back line, digging out many
of the Perry shots.
Juniors Kate
Spellman and Trinity Cavanaugh chipped in with some key serves, and Serena
Turner had some crucial kills, showing maturity beyond her freshman standing.
McKnight had
26 kills, 3 aces and 9 digs. Turner and sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Knight
had 10 kills apiece. Draper had 29 digs and Yeung had 18. And junior setter and
all-purpose player Shannon Shields had 42 assists, 14 digs and 6 kills.
In the first
game, Xavier started a bit slow and Perry maintained its pace throughout. The
Gators pulled even at 23, then were called for being under the net and allowing
a Perry service ace.
Game Two was
all Xavier. Shields applied the finishing touches with a kill to the back
corner. A kill by McKnight in Game Three put Xavier up 2-1, setting up a
possible finish in four games.
That didn’t
happen as Perry responded with a quality effort in Game 4.
The Pumas
could not endure some self-destruction in Game 5, having four service errors.
Still, they were within 13-11 with a key block. Xavier locked it up with the
final two points when Perry was called for a double hit, followed by a return
shot that fell short and into the net.
Note – Junior outside hitter Hayley Nash
did not play against Perry and likely will not be available for the title match
after suffering an ankle injury in practice on Monday (Nov. 6).
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