Harry Kaseff is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Corona del Sol High School for AZPreps365.com

TEMPE – Senior middle blocker Hayden Conner tallied 17 kills, including her 1,000th career kill, leading Corona del Sol to a 3-0 sweep (25-8, 25-21, 25-11) over Sunnyslope on Wednesday.

“It was a surreal moment,” said Conner, who has committed to the University of Washington. “It’s insane that I’ve been playing that long to score 1,000 kills, which is a big number, but it wasn’t just me getting those kills, it's my team.”

“Hayden has grown a ton,” Aztecs coach Ben Maxfield said. “She’s become a student of the game and that’s made a huge difference.”

In the first set, Sunnyslope took a timeout trailing 15-8. That’s when Conner took control and tallied six consecutive points, including four straight kills. It was part of a 12-point run to end the set for the Aztecs.

“My teammates remind me that I’m a great player,” Conner said. “They’re always there for me, especially when I’m down. I let them know that I’m there for them, and they can rely on me to put the ball down.”

The second set was much more competitive than the first. Sunnyslope coach Laurel Place used a timeout trailing 11-5. After Paige Nenaber scored a kill for the Aztecs, the Vikings went on a six-point run to make the score 12-11.

Vikings senior middle blocker Josie Portela solo blocked the Aztecs in the midst of their run, which got the entire Sunnyslope bench off their feet.

“I think our body language transformed our play in the second set,” Place said. “I was really proud of our blocking and our defense was great.”

Both teams traded three-point runs and the set was tied at 19.

“We were in control most of the time so I let it ride (without calling a timeout),” Maxfield said.

The Aztecs then went on a 4-0 run which started with a Sunnyslope serving error. Another Viking serving error gave the Aztecs set point and Lee-Tsosie scored the set-winning kill.

Conner’s 1,000th kill came in the third set. It was her 14th kill on the night, and was part of three consecutive points that she scored.

 

 

“It’s really good to have her,” junior Aztec setter Adelyn Chang said. “We always rely on her to put the ball away, and that’s what she does.”

Chang is committed to Temple University to continue her volleyball career.

After two separate four-point runs to start the third set, the Aztecs never looked back. They ended the match scoring seven consecutive points.

A major difference in the match came at the service line where the Aztecs tallied seven aces compared to the Vikings’ one ace. Aztec senior libero Erin Clark, who’s committed to Alabama, tallied five aces.

Corona del Sol controlled the match on offense and defense. The Aztecs outscored the Vikings in kills 41-13, and in blocks 9-2.

Corona del Sol (20-2) hosts Desert Vista (14-10) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Sunnyslope (12-3) plays Notre Dame Prep (12-3) in a neutral tournament this Friday at 12:15 p.m.