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.