Salpointe wins the Lancer Volleyball Classic

October 8, 2023 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


(Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

Led by senior setter Sophia Hernandez, and the play of her main targets, freshman Ashlyn Quiri and sophomore Kate Mobley, Salpointe went 6-0 on Friday and Saturday to capture the championship of the Lancer Classic held on the Salpointe Catholic campus.

Hernandez collected 20 assists in the final match against Catalina Foothills with the Lancers coming out on top of the Falcons 2-1 (25-26, 19-26, 15-10). Quiri had 11 kills and Mobely added six. The Falcons went 5-1 with All-Tournament Team member Lauren Glasner also finishing with 20 assists. Tori Staples had 11 kills and Molly Brunell had six. Staples also controlled the net with two blocks and several kills in the middle.

Salpointe took the first set 25-16 after going on an 11-3 run to end the set but Catalina Foothills returned the favor with a 10-6 run to take the second set 25-19. The Falcons led 21-15 in the second set but a net violation, an ace from Mobley and a kill from Quiri closed the lead down to 21-18. A block from Staples gave momentum back to the Falcons and she ended the second set with a block to send the match to a deciding third set. Salpointe took a 4-0 lead in the final set and that lead held up the rest of the way for the 15-10 win.

Salpointe (12-2 in power-ranking matches and 5-0 in region play) is No. 6 in the 4A Conference and the team takes a week off before finishing the regular season with three region matches on Oct. 24, 25 and 26. The Falcons are playing in the "Battle of the Realm" hosted by AZ College Prep from Oct. 13-14. Catalina Foothills (9-3, 0-1) is No. 12 in the 5A Conference.

Mica Mountain beat Cienega 25-18, 25-19 to take third place. Mica Mountain (9-1, 3-0) is ranked No. 4 in the 4A Conference and Cienega (7-6, 2-0) is No.  21 in the 5A Conference.