PHOENIX - Tucson Mica Mountain had an opening, leading the opening set of its first state volleyball final appearance 19-16. Then title game veterans Estrella Foothills slammed the door.
Senior Abby Stenz scored on a block to give the Wolves a 24-23 lead, then senior defensive specialist Ally Caton hit a clever over that the Thunderbolts could not handle for the 25-23 win. From there Mica Mountain largely collapsed until a last-ditch rally.
That would not be enough against a program that is becoming 4A's masters of Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. Estrella Foothills won its second state title in three years 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 on Nov. 16 in the Phoenix arena, motivated by the 4A final loss in between.
