#1 Highland sweeps #5 Mtn. View

May 11, 2023 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Highland's Jaren Brown attack's the block of Mesa Mtn. View's Porter Wilhelm (14) and Knox Pothier (12) in Thursday's 6A semifinal. (Azpreps365 photo)

Highland's boys volleyball earned the chance for unfinished business in the 6A state tournament semifinals on Thursday night.

The host and top-seeded Hawks mowed down their third opponent in this year's tournament, sweeping #5 Mesa Mountain View, 25-19, 25-7, 25-16. The Hawks opponent in Saturday's title match is #2 Perry. Perry (37-6-2) punched its ticket to the final with a sweep of #3 Brophy Prep. Scores vs. Brophy were 25-21, 25-15 and 25-16.

The senior-dominated Hawks (37-4-2) were balanced on attack in advancing to the final. Jase Adams led with 11 kills followed by Jaren Brown (10), Sam Walker (7) and Hayden Winegar (5). Setter Winegar dished out 32 assists. Defensively Kaleo Grover provided 12 digs. Mountain View finished the season 20-17-1.

Highland started fast in the first set taking a 10-2 lead. Mountain View gradually battled back paring the deficit to 19-17. Kills were recorded by four players in the last six points - Adams, David Cluff, Brown and Wynegar dulled the Toros rally.

Walker paced the win in the second set with five kills and Adams and Brown added had three apiece. Set three saw Brown collect five kills and Adams four. 

"It was a clean match for us," Highland coach Jeff Grover said. "I liked how we started and how we finished. Especially liked the way we defended."

Mountain View's attack revolved around Ryan Osborn and Max Pothier. Osborn collected eight kills and Pothier added four.