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

SCOTTSDALE -- Using the power of 31 aces, the Rancho Solano Mustangs celebrated another win on Senior Night, sweeping the Basis Phoenix Firebirds on Tuesday. 

The Mustangs beat the Firebirds, 25-11, 25-11, 25-8, in a convincing effort from start to finish in Rancho Solano’s final regular-season game of the 2024 season.

In the first set, the Mustangs went on a 14-3 run early to make it 18-7 and never relinquished the lead. The Mustangs had 12 aces in the first set, including five straight by sophomore Olivia Novac.

“The energy was just really good from our last win the previous day and I think we continued that today,” Mustangs coach Marissa Morah said. “I think confidence from our win yesterday against Trivium Prep and consistency led to that.”

In the second set, the Mustangs once again went on an early 11-2 run to build a 16-7 lead, which they never gave up. The Mustangs finished the set on a 5-0 run, including  three aces by junior Miley Avenell to make the final score 25-11. The Mustangs had 11 aces in the second set.

The Mustangs started the third set on a 16-3 run thanks to two kills and five aces during that run by sophomore Sofia Smith. The Firebirds made it interesting with three straight aces by sophomore Avika Anand but ultimately the Mustangs won the set 25-8, sweeping the Firebirds. While not as impressive as the first two sets, the Mustangs still had eight aces in the third set.

The Mustangs ended the game with 31 aces, a stat that was not overlooked by both coaches.

“I thought that Rancho Solano played great,” Firebirds coach Georgia Brooks said. “Our team did a good job at communicating but our defense was a little rocky as well as our serve-receive, so I think that’s where we faltered this game.”

But the win for the Mustangs was slightly overshadowed by their beloved senior Rylee Payne playing her last regular- season game and the emotions that came with it.

“I’m running on pure adrenaline right now,” Payne said. “It’s just surreal and emotional.”

Payne finished with one kill and five aces.

As the regular season concludes for the Mustangs, the playoffs come next and the team is excited for the challenge ahead.

“We need to keep the same energy we had this week,” Morah said. “We are really trying to prioritize the team over the way we feel and the moment and we are also trying to trust our training in the tight moments.”

“As their captain, I look forward to leading them in their mental state,” Payne said. “Such as spreading positivity and making sure they know we can do this.”

Rancho Solano Prep (12-5, 5-3) will wait for seeding to play out for the play-in tournament which will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 5. Basis Phoenix (8-8, 1-6) will host Scottsdale Prep at 6 p.m. Thursday for their final regular-season game.