Matthew Singer is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Rancho Solano Prep for AZPreps365.com

The Rancho Solano Mustangs celebrated homecoming Friday night, sweeping the Horizon Honors Eagles in straight sets. 

The Mustangs beat the Eagles,  25-19, 25-12, 25-22, continuing their great 6-2 start to the season.

In the first set, tied at 9-9, the Mustangs went on a 7-1 run to make it 16-10, prompting a timeout by the Eagles. 

The Mustangs never relinquished the lead in the set, thanks to two aces by junior Maya Blair and a set-winning kill by sophomore Kelsey Purcell, winning the set 25-19.

“They just have a nose, a no-balls-hit-the-floor mentality,” Mustangs coach Marissa Morah said. “We made some crazy, unconventional plays. But they did not give up and that’s something I love about this team.” 

In the second set, the Mustangs got off to a blistering start, building  a 19-3 lead thanks to great overall team play and fundamentals. Horizon made a slight run before losing the set, 25-12. 

“It had a lot to do with mental toughness. That's my opinion,” Eagles coach Amanda Bors said. 

The third set was more tightly contested than the first two sets. Trailing 15-13 after five aces and five kills by the Eagles, followed up by a great overall match by Eagles sophomore Alanah Tadman and junior Makayla Aaron. The Mustangs then rallied to go on a 12-7 run to win the set, 25-22, and ultimately won the game in straight sets. 

Morah had more praise for her team’s third-set performance. 

“They played together and we really have focused on leaning on each other during the hard times and I think that showed tonight,” Morah said.

Mustangs sophomore Sofia Smith tallied seven kills during that set alone, and tallied 11 kills for the game. 

“I listened to my music and got ready for the game,” Smith said.  “I got into that mentality and was just ready to kill out there.”

Smith believes she can improve.

“I think that maybe getting out of my own head and just shaking it off, getting ready for the next play,” Smith said.

Going into the next game, and the final month of the regular season, the two  teams have different goals.

“Thankfully, we have fall break next week so that will help the team clear their minds and be ready to come back for the last month of the regular season,” Bors said.

“We want to continue to build on the atmosphere we created here tonight,” Morah said.  “I thought it was really positive.”

Rancho Solano Prep (6-2, 1-0) will host Sedona Red Rock (0-4, 0-2) at 6 p.m.  Monday. Horizon Honors (3-4, 1-1) will take their fall break before traveling to Parker High School (3-1, 0-0) at 5 p.m. on Oct. 11.

Rancho Solano sophomore Kelsey Purcell wins the first set 25-19 with a kill on Friday at Rancho Solano Prep. (Matthew Singer photo/AZPreps365)