The Mesa Jackrabbits continued their dominance the 6A East Valley region Thursday night with a three-set victory over the Red Mountain Mountain Lions,  25-19, 25-19, 28-26.

 

Although a three-set victory, this game was much closer than the score reflected.

 

The Mountain Lions held a lead for a majority of the the first set when one of the best rallies of the season occurred.

 

The Mountain Lions lead 17-14 when the two teams rallied for more than 35 hits, four incredible diving plays, and a monstrous kill by Red Mountain’s Makenna Fullford.

 

With Red Mountain taking momentum, Mesa turned to their captain, Annie Hatch, who dominated the end of the first half as the Jackrabbits scored the final nine points of the set and won 25-19.

 

“Shes awesome,” Red Mountain coach Kristy Simmons said.  “Her and her sister (Kate) were our number one problem, and that is what we practiced for.”

 

The second set was much like the first.  It was back-and-forth when the Mountain Lions made a momentum play when they blocked a thunderous spike from Hatch to take a 17-16 lead, but like the first set, Annie Hatch dominated as Bridgit Carter and Kate Hatch came up with some key defensive plays and the Jackrabbits won the set 25-19.

 

“I feel our defense has gotten much better," Kate Hatch said, "just scooping up the ball, and also our blocking was much better today.”

 

The third set was even better than the first two, with the largest lead coming late in the set with Red Mountain leading 23-18. At that poiint, Mesa called a timeout.

 

“This was set three, all the pressure is on them,” Mesa coach Amy Strawn said. “We were playing as if the pressure was on us.  Most of the night we looked tentative and unsure of whose ball it is.  This was like our 30th match. We shouldn’t be having that.”

 

After a point by each team, Mesa trailed 24-19, when Annie Hatch took over with a thunderous spike to bring it within one and another monstrous hit that was blocked out of bounds to tie the game at 25.

 

The game ended with a great rally that, of course, was ended by a kill from Hatch.

 

“I think Red Mountain gave us more than we expected them to,” Strawn said.  “We were very lucky to escape that one tonight.”

 

It shouldn’t go unnoticed that Annie Hatch is coming down to her last few high school games with her mom (the coach), and her little sister, Kate, who explained what playing with her  big sister has meant to her.

 

“It means a lot,” Kate Hatch said.  “These last three years with her have been so much fun, and I’m just enjoying what we have left.”

 

Mesa (25-12 overall, 5-0 in region play) faces off against Westwood (15-9 overall, 3-1 in region play), on Tuesday in the 2018 Dig Pink Rivalry Match at Mesa.