It's a busy final week of the regular season for #1-ranked Valley Christian's girls volleyball team. Three matches in three days began Tuesday night with the 3A Metro Region title going to the Trojans with a win or a share of the region lead #4 Odyssey Institute's way if the Minotaurs prevailed. 

As it did two weeks ago, Valley Christian was up to another challenge from Odyssey. The Trojans backed up their ranking after a sluggish start and recorded a second, four-set triumph over the Minotaurs on Senior Night. Scores this time were 25-23, 25-11, 24-26 and 25-18.

The region crown is Valley Christian's first since 2016 when it shared one with Fountain HIlls. The last outright title was in 2014. The Trojans are 22-5 overall, 14-1 in power-ranking matches and 9-0 in region play. Odyssey slipped to 27-4, 15-2, 7-2.  They finish the season on the road at Gilbert Christian and Yuma Catholic.

"I'm so proud of this team," Valley Christian coach Lindy Ramsland said. "We played well in all phases. To come back in the first set and win against them was something. Our seniors were great tonight. They were up for this. I'm going to miss them."

The seniors -- middle blocker Breanna Brooks, outside hitter Abigail Calicchio and libero Megan Davies didn't let the night overwhelm them. Brooks led the Trojans attack with 14 kills - seven in the final set plus the match and region-title clinching ace. Calicchio checked in with eight kills, nine digs and three aces. Davies had nine digs and four aces.

Valley Christian had to scrap to win the opening set. Odyssey jumped out to a 9-2 lead and still had the upper hand at 20-14 after one of several first-set kills by Minotaurs' senior outside hitter Rilee White. An 11-3 run by Valley  - helped by a rash of five Odyssey errors - snuffed out a two-point win. 

The second set was nothing less than a Valley Christian clinic. Five kills, a block and two aces and the Trojans were breezing, 10-1. It got no better and home fans were sensing a sweep.

Odyssey coach Brian Weaver made a rotation change for the third set and his team responded by playing its best of the night. The Minotaurs essentially traded points all the way to the finish. A service error by Valley and kill by Liana Tolliver gave the Minotaurs the two-point win and a crack at a fourth set.

Six aces in the fourth set by Valley Christian - three in a row from Calicchio - and the Trojans won the match going away.

Odyssey had its work cut out for it in the end defending Valley's attack. Besides Brooks and Calicchio, four other Trojans registered seven kills or more -- Cara Braun (10), Kate Phillips (8), Emma Richardson (7) and setter Kenzie Carpenter (7).

Leading Odyssey's attack unofficialy was White with 12 kills, Regan Ferguson with 9 and Tolliver had eight.