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#1 Corona tops #4 Perry in semis
November 10, 2022 by Les
Willsey, AZPreps365
Corona del Sol volleyball made its way to the
school's 12th state championship match in its history on Thursday night
and first since 2018. The top-seeded Aztecs defeated #4 Perry rallying
from a first-set loss for a 19-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-22 triumph at Corona
del Sol High School.
Corona's opponent in Saturday's 7 p.m. final at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
is two-time defending champ and #2 Hamilton. Hamilton advanced dispatching
#6 Liberty in four sets. Scores were 25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22.
It was business as usual for Corona (38-5) highlighted by its strong and
varied attack. Four players collecteed double-figure totals in kills led
by senior outside Kierstyn Barton (20 kills), sophomore outside Alyssa
Aguayo (15 kills), senior middle Ella Lomigora (11 kills) and junior
outside Maggie Beauer (10 kills). Beauer also led the defensive effort
with 26 digs and freshman libero Erin Clark checked in with 18 digs. Perry
(33-9) was led by senior outside Avery Burks (20 kills) and fellow senior
outside Amy Wahlin with 10 kills.
Perry led start to finish in the first set leaving host Corona to attempt
to get cooking. The Aztecs did just that. They amassed a 16-8 lead in the
second only to have to put down a spirited Pumas rally. Perry pecked away
and tied Corona at 21 thanks to an ace by Kate Wagner. The set was tied
one more time (22-all), but Corona reeled off the final three points all
thanks to Perry - two attack errors and a double-hit violation.
The third set was controlled most of the way by Perry. The Pumas largest
lead was 20-15 after a tip kill by Wahlin. Perry's lead melted to 22-21
and the teams traded timeouts with Corona in front, 24-23. There were
three more ties - the final one 26-all. A kill by Beauer and block by
Aguayo clinched the set for Corona.
Corona controlled the fourth set and appeared ready to handily put Perry
away. Corona fashioned a 17-9 lead forcing Perry to call time. Perry never
led although it didn't bow out without some fight. The Pumas forged two
ties 19-all and 20-all. Corona used kills from Barton, Lomigora, Beauer
and Aguayo to nab the set and match. Aguayo's 15th kill ended the match.
#4 Perry nabs 1st-round sweep of #13 Desert Vista
November 03, 2022 by Les
Willsey, AZPreps365
Perry volleyball suffered a short stay in the 6A state
tournament in 2021. The Pumas were the #3 seed, but dropped their
first-round match to #14 Queen Creek in five sets. The Pumas possessed
high hopes of a longer run and possibly a third consecutive trip to the
conference title match.
Perry again was a high seed Thursday night in the first round of the 2022
6A tourney where it hosted Desert Vista. This time Perry took care of
business handily. The fourth-seeded Pumas eliminated the 13th-seeded
Thunder in three sets -- 25-13, 25-23, 25-17 at Dan Serrano Gymnasium.
Perry (32-8) moves on to Tuesday's quarterfinals. Desert Vista finished
its season 21-15. The Pumas will host #5 Sandra Day O'Connor, which
rallied to edge #12 Highland in five sets. O'Connor finished runner-up in
6A to Hamilton last season.
Perry's attack was spread nicely among outside hitters Avery Burks (15
kills) and Isa Blackwell (10 kills) and middle Kenna Cogill (10 kills).
Junior Lily LaFlesch, pressed into duty for under-the-weather libero
Braelyn Woodworth, contributed a team-high 17 digs. Middle Reese
Biesemeyer checked in with five blocks. Unofficial attack leaders for
Desert Vista - Neyah Davison (7 kills), Amiyah White (6 kills) and Hayden
Conner (5 kills).
Perry set the tone with its decisive win in the first set. The Pumas were
challenged the first half of the set with the scored tied at 11. In their
14-2 run to finish the set, Burks had three kills, Biesemeyer two kills
and a block and aces were served by Avery Stones and Reagan Reynolds.
Desert Vista didn't trail in the second set until Perry pecked away and
went ahead, 18-17. The set was tied one more time (20-all), but Burks had
three kills and Cogill two as the Pumas eked out the win. The final set
saw Perry snap a 5-5 tie with a 14-5 run. Desert Vista got no closer than
seven points the rest of the way.
Perry VB avenges sweep with sweep
October 19, 2022 by Les
Willsey, AZPreps365
One would think when Perry and Hamilton girls volleyball
square off, fans should settle in for four- or five-set battles. Two of
6A's top programs, these Chandler district rivals have done nothing but
sweep one another in their two regular-season meetings in 2021 and and
again in 2022.
On Wednesday night it was #5 Perry's turn to post a sweep on #4 Hamilton's
home court. Scores were 25-23, 25-20, 25-20. Back in late September at
Perry, Hamilton took the whisk broom to the Pumas, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23.
The visiting team has won every time so home-court advantage hasn't played
a role. Perry improved to 12-2 overall in power-ranking matches, 5-1 in
the Premier Region. The Pumas are tied for first for the region lead with
Xavier Prep (9-6, 5-1). Xavier visits Perry Thursday night for sole
possession of the region lead. Hamilton is 13-2, 4-2. The Huskies also
play Thursday hosting Basha.
Perry took to the attack primarily with senior outside hitter Avery Burks,
who responded with a match-high 22 kills. Amy Wahlin added seven kills.
Libero Braelyn Woodworth paced the Pumas defense with 20 digs and and Kate
Wagner was next with 14 digs. Hamilton's Neomi Beach recorded 19 kills and
Mikayla Haner added 9 kills. The Huskies were led defensively by senior
libero Lauren Mullings (25 digs).
Perry hung on to take the first set after giving up an early 12-7 lead.
Hamilton pulled in front by two twice late, the last time 19-17. The
Huskies were hurt at clutch time by three attack errors. Burks posted
Perry's final two points, giving her seven in the set.
Hamilton had play go its way through the mid-point of the second set. A
15-12 lead was its largest. Back-to-back kills by Burks snapped a 15-15
tie. The Pumas last deficit in the set was 15-14 and they score four of
the final five points.
Perry was steadfast in winning the third set. The Pumas never trailed and
fashioned its largest lead at 16-9. Burks ran off four consecutive kills
to break a 3-3 tie. Avery Stones, Kenna Cogill and Wahlin added kills in
the run up to the 16-9 lead. Wahlin chipped in a block
Perry VB triumphs at House of Payne
September 3, 2022 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
The annual House of Payne Girls Volley Tournament had a
familiar competitor in its final match on Saturday - the Perry
Pumas. Perry improved its lot from last season winning the tournament
after finishing runner-up in 2021.
Perry knocked off Chandler district rival Hamilton in
the title match. Score was 25-23. The teams, weary from six matches in two
days, determined they would play one set to 25 to decide the champion
rather than the customary three.
A block by Perry sophomore middle Kenna Cogill was the
winning point. The Pumas never trailed in the set, building a five- and
six-point advantage fairly late (16-11 and 20-14) only to have the Huskies
rally for the tight finish. A 23-20 deficit was erased by two kills by
Huskies outside hitter Neomi Beach and a Perry four-hit violation.
Hamilton followed the tying point with a service error and Cogill's block
ended it.
Perry coach Fred Mann liked his team's performance in
the tourney. The Pumas have won outright or shared the 6A Premier Region
title each of the last four seasons. Hamilton has won the last two 6A
championships, including the 2020 crown over Perry.
"We got better defensively, something we needed to do,"
Mann said. "We have a lot of size, and have to use it to our advantage.
It's the beginning of the process."
Hamilton swept its three pool-play opponents while Perry
played three sets vs. two of its pool foes and had one sweep. The schools
shift back to regular-season matches next week with Hamilton visiting
Mountain Ridge on Tuesday and Perry playing host to Casteel on Wednesday.
Perry VB outlasts Chaparral in 2-hour contest
August 25, 2022 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Perry and Chaparral opened their 2022 volleyball season on Thursday night.
Ultimately they went the distance in the two-hour-plus battle.
That, of course, meant a five-set match. Host Perry managed to come out on
top in a topsy-turvey affair by scores of 25-16, 29-27, 25-27, 21-25 and
15-12 at Dan Serrano Gym.
Perry relied on its top attack returner from last season - senior outside
hitter Avery Burks - to lead the way. Burks finished with 22 kills.
Sophomore middle Kenna Cogill contributed all-around with 11 kills, four
blocks and two aces.
Perry took the first two sets and seemed on its way to a sweep in the
third. Leading 24-20, Chaparral bowed its neck and ran off five successive
points for a 25-24 lead. Perry managed to even it at 25, but Chaparral had
come too far to let a chance at extending the match get away. Chaparral
forced a fifth set using a closing 9-4 run in the fourth with kills from
Isabella Scarfone, Brenna Rowland, Katherine Peterson and Clare Palin
sharing the spotlight in the run.
"You can't be up 24-20 and miss a serve the could finish it," Perry coach
Fred Mann said. "We managed to finish it, and proud of the way we came
back. It was a good battle to begin the season."
The final set saw Perry never trail. The Pumas broke a 5-5 tie and led 9-5
after a Braelyn Woodworth ace. Chaparral quickly pulled within 9-8 using a
pair of Palin kills. Burks guided the finish with three kills among the
Pumas final five points.
"This was a good opener for us against a good team," Chaparral coach Chad
Speer said. "It was a high level of of play."
Palin and Rowland led Chaparral offensively. Palin and Rowland
unofficially totaled 16 kills and 10 kills, respectively.
Perry will have its hands full competing in the 6A Premier Region with
Hamilton, Xavier Prep, Chandler and Basha. Chaparral dropped down a
conference to 5A this season and gets no break competing with Horizon,
Notre Dame Prep, Desert Mountain and Cactus Shadows in the Northeast
Valley Region.
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