By Don Ketchum

Phoenix Northwest Christian and Chandler Valley Christian have numerous volleyball state championship banners on their gymnasium walls, so it should have been no surprise that Tuesday night’s (Sept. 27) revival of their rivalry would have a championship flavor.

Visiting Valley Christian won the first game 26-24, followed by three straight wins by Northwest, which won the Class 2A title a year ago. Those games also were close – 26-24, 27-25 and 27-25.

Northwest Christian coach Beth Lemke was thankful to survive this one, now listed under Division IV.

“Valley has been our rival for a long time. Every time we play them, it seems like we have a good match like this,’’ Lemke said.

The Crusaders have been working on maintaining their composure in practice.

In the first game, it didn’t work out so well, as Valley Christian rallied from a 23-24 deficit with the final three points.

In the second game, Northwest Christian trailed 20-15 before rallying. In the third game, it trailed 24-22 and 25-24 before pulling it out.

And in what proved to be the final game, Northwest Christian scrambled to an early 11-4 lead and later an 18-12 lead before Valley Christian rallied to lead 24-21 and 25-24. The Crusaders finished it off with a big kill from left-hander Alexis Patterson.

“It was nice to end on a note like that,’’ Lemke said.

“What we’ve tried to tell them, “When it gets tough, will you give in or not?’ ’’