Emily Stabilito is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Scottsdale Christian Academy for AZPreps365.com.

SCOTTSDALE – The Scottsdale Christian girls volleyball team closed a hard-fought third set with a 10–0 run to sweep Horizon Honors, 25–12, 25–17, 25–19, on Thursday evening, notching its seventh straight win to remain atop the 2A division. 

Horizon dropped its sixth consecutive match.

Junior outside hitter Kaya Olafson led SCA with 12 kills, while senior outside hitter Selah Wadsworth added nine.

In the opening set, SCA gave Horizon eight of its first nine points with early errors, before finding its footing with a 6-0 run and a 3-0 individual effort from Wadsworth to take control.

“Selah is amazing. She’s one of our captains,” coach Julie Dickerson said. “It’s so fun to see her in her final year really be able to start leading on this team.

“Selah probably has the heaviest arm in 2A. When she gets timing down with her setter, it’s really hard for teams to stop.”

Wadsworth notched back-to-back kills in both the second and third sets.

SCA kept their pace through the second set with a 9–0 run that included three kills and a block from Olafson, plus two service aces from senior libero Lucy Dickerson. Horizon fought back with timely blocks but faltered on communication, including one point when two players collided going for the same ball.

“It’s a confidence thing,” Horizon coach Amanda Bors said. “We’re working on our communication and just trusting each other.”

Horizon’s best stretch came in the third set. The team opened with a 6–0 run and built a 14–6 lead, their largest of the match, thanks to key blocks and an ace from senior opposite hitter Kennedy Harbertson.

“We’ve worked on blocking a lot this year,” Bors said. “We’re one of the best blocking teams in 2A. Number nine, Kennedy – she’s really close to breaking our all-time block record.”

Scottsdale Christian remained cool under pressure and responded without hesitation.

“I didn’t call a timeout,” Dickerson said. “We're big on letting our girls figure it out on the court. Being able to get themselves out of a hole like that is going to make us better in the next game.”

To close out the match, freshman middle hitter Shea Perkins delivered a kill and two blocks during the decisive 10–0 finish, while sophomore defensive specialist Emma Weller tacked on three sharp aces, including the final two points of the night. 

“I’ve been trying to get my service better,” Weller said. “The key is just playing aggressive, serving aggressive.

“I think we can win state.”

Despite the loss, Bors emphasized more fun and less pressure for her team.

“It’s not the volleyball skills we’re lacking,” Bors said. “We are struggling to finish games. We're putting a lot of pressure on ourselves and just have to remember to have fun.”

Scottsdale Christian (13–3) will play at San Tan Charter on Monday at 6 p.m.

Horizon Honors (3-10) will travel to Veritas Prep on Tuesday at 6 p.m.