Page 5 - 2020 AIA Volleyball Championship Program

Rest of top-8 seeded teams in brief
#3 Highland - The Hawks posted a 13-2 record. Losses were to Perry and Hamilton. Won Central Region title. Leading the effort this season are 1st-team all-region selections from 2019 Samia Bhakta (OH), Natalie Palmer (setter) and Kennedy Williams (OH).
#4 Mountain View (Mesa) - The Toros posted a 13-2 record. Losses were to Hamilton and Perry. Won East Valley Region title. Players to keep and eyed on are Brekyn Goodman (OH), Briley Decker (setter) and McKelle Huish (libero).
#5 Sandra Day O’Connor - The Eagles posted a 12-2 record. Losses were to Hamilton and Pinnacle. Won Desert Valley Region title. Players to watch are Trinity Broadway (OH-MB), Maya Kitna (middle) and Sarah Martin (libero).
#6 Pinnacle - The Pioneers posted a 12-3 record. Losses were to Sandra Day O’Connor, Hamilton and Valley Vista. Runner-up in Desert Valley Region. Three standouts from 2019 have been stellar again- Madison Lounds (middle blocker), Kierslynn Wright (outside hitter) and Brook Cowie (setter).
# 7 Desert Vista - The Thunder posted an 11-4 record. Losses were to Highland (twice), Perry and Xavier Prep. Runner-up in Central Region. Three standouts from 2019 returned this season and have played well - Georgia Lee (setter), Kate Morin (libero) and Logan Blutreich (middle).
#8 Xavier Prep - The Gators posted a 9-6 record. Losses were to Hamilton (two), Perry (two), Mountain View and Chandler. Third place in Premier Region. It’s been primarily a rebuilding year with the two players back with substantial varsity time from 2019 being Alexa Shiner (setter) and Kaori Robertson (libero). Others to watch - Phoebe Lewis and Isabella Sinacori (middles).
6A STATE TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals: Tuesday Nov. 17 at site of high seed Semifinals: Thursday Nov. 19 at site of high seed Championship: Saturday Nov. 21 at Mesquite High School
Firrst Round: Saturday Nov. 14 (all matches 6:30 p.m, unless otherwise noted) #16 Mountain Ridge at #1 Perry
#9 Corona del Sol at #8 Xavier Prep
#12 Valley Vista at #5 Sandra Day O’Connor
#13 Queen Creek at #4 Mountain View #14 Basha at #3 Highland
#11 Sunnyslope at #6 Pinnacle
#10 Chandler at #7 Desert Vista
#15 Liberty at #2 Hamilton
NOTE: Six schools have won a 6A (big school) title in the past decade: Xavier Prep (4) - 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018. Desert Vista (2) - 2013 and 2014. Gilbert (1) - 2011. Horizon (1) - 2012. Corona del Sol (1) - 2016. Basha (1) - 2019.
Perry coach Fred Mann and Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis continue to chase that elusive first state title for their programs. (Photos by Steve Chadwick/MaxPreps)