Derek Rivera is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Deer Valley High School for AZPreps365.com

The Paradise Honors Panthers swept the Deer Valley Skyhawks but not before being pushed to the brink in a match-sealing 26-24 third-set victory in Surprise Tuesday night. 

The Skyhawks (2-8) dropped the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-11, before the coaching staff made an in-game adjustment to the stifling Panthers defense prior to the third set. 

“We changed our offense in that last set and I think that change gave us some energy and success,” assistant coach Chris Coleman said.

The offensive adjustment showed an immediate impact as the Skyhawks never trailed by more than four points in the tightly contested third set. Team captain Izzy Darnell was a main contributor in that set and finished with a team-leading eight kills and four aces. Seven of her kills came in the third set after the offensive adjustment. 

The Panthers’ victory was led by sophomore Brielle Tippins, who had seven kills to go along with eight aces, five of which were in the first set during a 10-0 scoring run. Tippins wasn’t the only Panther contributing as three of her teammates also had seven kills apiece. 

Panthers coach Megan Domingo gave a similar testament to what has contributed to her team winning five of their last six matches.  

“They all really, truly love each other, and they all play for each other,” Domingo said. 

Though the Skyhawks lost in straight sets, coach Jackie Wallace was able to find some positives in her team's performance.

“We definitely saw a different side of them,” Wallace said. “They definitely hustled and showed a lot of heart tonight.”

Skyhawks senior Isabella Figueroa, who had a pair of kills and an ace, is also using her team's late-game performance as a way to help her team’s success moving forward. 

“We’ll keep practicing what we need to do, lifting each other up and being there for each other,” Figuera said. 

Paradise Honors (13-4) will travel to Poston Butte (8-4) this Friday at 6 p.m. 

Deer Valley (2-8) will host ALA - Queen Creek (6-3) next Monday at 6 p.m.