It was no surprise the 1A girls volleyball title match featured the top two seeds - #1 Williams and #2 Rock Point. It also wasn't shocking they played the maximum five sets Saturday afternoon to determine the 2022 champion.

Rock Point prevailed - 25-16, 25-27, 22-25, 25-15, 15-11 - and as a result is back-to-back conference champs. The match was played at Coronado High School. It was the fifth meeting this season between Rock Point and Williams. The teams split the prior four. 

"I think it was all about heart," Rock Point coach Kyle Arthur said. "I coached them back in eighth grade, and thought then they were destined for greatness.....

"We've played (Williams) a lot. I knew it could go either way."

Rock Point (33-4) was paced by senior hitter Arianne Begay. Begay registered 36 kills (unofficially) allowing her to easily surpass the 600-kill mark for the season. In a match played a week ago against Williams (29-9), Begay amassed 43 kills. The duo of senior Shaelee Echeverria (22 kills) and junior Kai Mortensen (15 kills) led Williams' attack in the title match.

Rock Point's Arianne Begay (10) attacks Williams defense in Saturday's 1A title match. (Azpreps365 photo)

The chance at a repeat title for Rock Point wasn't good after Williams won the tight second and third sets for a 2-1 lead. The Cougars never trailed in the fourth set, but held a slim lead at 16-15 after an attack error. It was the Arianne Begay show from there. Begay dominated a 9-0 run serving five aces and supplying a kill to send the match to a fifth set.

A fast start to the fifth set was key. Rock Point led 4-0 with two kills from Begay and one from Desiree Tsosie. The set tightened quickly and Williams notched its only lead of the set (10-9) thanks to a Echeverria kill. A 6-1 title-clinching run to finish the set was highlighted by two kills by Begay (including the match finisher), a June Yazzie kill and block and a Kamry Yazzie ace.