Andrew Merklinger is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Xavier Prep for AZPreps365.com. 

Defense and passing was the name of the game for the Xavier Prep Gators Wednesday as they dominated Hamilton High School, 3-0. 

“It’s a serve and pass game and we served really well, and we passed OK, enough to get a win and run our middles. Our goal is we want to run our middles, and we were able to do that. so that’s always a success,” Xavier Prep head coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said about her team’s performance.

Passing has been her focal point with practice, and they executed well tonight with 33 team assists, 51 team digs and 40 receptions.  

The first set was back and forth with Xavier front woman, junior Alison Dunnion, setting the tone with four kills to set up a 25-19 victory in set one. She would end up having six total in the game along with one block and one dig. 

Sophomore Tessa Larkin then took over dominating set two with six of her 11 team leading total kills coming in this set for a 25-12 well-rounded set two by the Gators. In her 18 sets played this year Larkin already has 75 kills, more than enough for the team lead. 

Then in set three to close it out, Vivian Hickman, a junior, was all over the floor with five assists, four digs and three kills to close out the night with a 25-16 win in set three. 

“We just saw holes in their defense and holes in their blocks and we just went for it, we knew the gameplan before the game and we just executed it,” said Hickman about what was working well for Xavier and what they looked to attack. 

Senior Elle McCreery gave credit to the middle of the court for Xavier saying, “we had great connections, great passes to start off with our serve and receive and we had great connections especially in the middle with the setters.”  

After splitting last year in conference play, Xavier made sure to get the emphatic victory in the lone meeting this year. 

“It feels great and especially in our home gym, it’s even better. There’s always a rivalry going between Xavier and Hamilton so it’s great to get this win,” said McCreery about what this win means as a team. 

Xavier Prep to this point have not lost a set and Hickman credits that to their bond as a team saying, “We have really good team chemistry. Everyone’s really close, we all think of each other as sisters.” 

McCreery added to this idea.

"The vibes are always good on the court, and I feel like when we’re all meshing together it works and that’s why it’s been working so well.” 

“We stayed focused and we’re doing a really good job so I’m really excited and I’m proud and just keep building,” said Bryant about her team’s performance so far this season. 

Xavier now moves to 6-0 on the year following the win and will travel to Vegas for a weekend tournament before returning to Arizona and hosting Valley Vista next Wednesday.