Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

To the uninitiated, it looked like a boys volleyball version of a boxer versus a puncher.

As it turned out, this powerhouse had staying power. And Queen Creek American Leadership Academy had some of the sweet science to go along with its array of large, explosive attackers.

The #5 seeded Patriots (34-3) outlasted #1 Deer Valley (29-9) Wednesday in a 5A semifinal showdown chock full of intensity, athleticism and fervent fan support at Highland High School in Gilbert. American Leadership rolled as the match went on, winning 22-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-21.

"They run a really quick offense and we haven't faced anybody that ran a quick offense for a long time," Deer Valley co-coach Kim Ulrich-Suss said. "They run a very complicated offense that's called a 31 shoot at the middle. We hadn't defended that all year. We needed to make an adjustment and we didn't."

Newcomers on the playoff volleyball scene, the Patriots grabbed a 22-18 advantage in the first set largely thanks the hammering attacks and heat-seeking jump serves and of senior Jayton Hall.

The Skyhawks secured a side out and sent of their own serving ace, junior Ben Nguyen, stepped up. He served the final six points of the set - punctuated by an ace - while junior Nathan Chapparo connected with three kills in the rally.

American Leadership Academy was not bothered by the first set slipping away, dominating the second set.  Junior Brett Bryce joined Hall as the primary attackers, while senior Mark Dietze tightened the Patriots' block.

Ulrich-Suss

The Skyhawks pressed midway through the third set and fell into a 16-10 hole. Deer Valley rebounded to cut it to 18-15, and drew closer (19-18) on Nguyen's serve.

But ALA, led by the power of 6-6 senior middle blocker Tyler Jameson, never let the Skyhawks tie the set. Three straight Deer Valley errors allowed the Patriots to win 25-21 and maintain momentum.

Neither team could grab hold of the fourth set. Senior Porter Pace was the latest Patriot hitter to give Deer Valley fits.

The teams were tied at 15, 18 and 21. Then American Leadership Academy made its final push.

Hall's kill provided a 23-21 cushion. The team traded service breaks, then Patriots coach Tim Zemp brought in freshman Mason Pace to serve and he hit the match-ending ace.

"We're very proud of our kids. They fought hard for us all season," Deer Valley co-coach Eric Palmer said.

Deer Valley, 2010 state champions in the large school boys volleyball division, had been in a drought recently by its standards.

The Skyhawks posted their best record since 2012 and made their deepest playoff run since the title season. Seniors Matthew Geiser, Brenden Hardt and Justin Farris also contributed to the rebound 2017 season, which ended in a quarterfinal loss at Vail Cienega.

Our big middle blocker (Hardt) was not at 100 percent (after an injuries sustained in an early spring car crash). That kind of came up against that quick offense today. Matt Geiser, our senior setter, has been an anchor for us. Justin Farris is our specialty server," Ulrich-Suss said. "It's going to be really hard to replace those guys."

Deer Valley's rotation was junior dominated this year. Those 11 players now have all the motivation they will need for 2019.

"We know we'll be back again next year," Ulrich-Suss said.