#2 Hamilton earned the chance to repeat as 6A volleyball champions Thursday night. The Huskies outlasted pesky Premier Region rival Xavier Prep in four sets, 28-26, 25-11, 21-25, 25-16. To complete their title defense, Hamilton must avenge its season-opening loss to #1 Sandra Day O'Connor on Saturday (Nov. 13) at Arizona Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in the last of five conference title matches at AVMC that day. Hamilton-Sandra Day O'Connor match is set for 7 p.m.

Hamilton defeated Xavier Prep for the fourth time in as many meetings this year to reach the final. Hamilton swept two regular-season matches and won a shortened invitational match from Xavier as well. O'Connor rallied from a 2-0 deficit in its semifinal to edge Corona del Sol. Scores were 24-26, 20-25, 28-26, 25-13, 25-11.

"Each time we played Xavier, the matches were tougher," Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis said. "That's a shout out to them."

Winning the first set was the key to Hamilton's victory. Hamilton led by eight early (10-2). Xavier found itself with improved play as the set reached the 20s. Xavier managed a 22-20 lead as its attack firmed up with few misfires. The Gators fought off four set points before Hamilton snapped a 26-26 tie with with kills from Micah Gryniewicz and Neomi Beach to finish it.

Hamilton cruised to the win in the second set. The Huskies led 21-20 in the third, but a trio of kills from freshman Elle McCreery and one by sophomore Finley Workman earned a fourth set giving the Gators hope.

The fourth set was up for grabs at the halfway point. Xavier couldn't keep pace with four attack errors, five Hamilton kills and an ace finishing the Gators.

 "I wish we could have won the first set," Xavier coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said. "It might have changed mindsets. But we didn't. They have a great team. I'm super proud of our girls. They got better each time we played them. Our passing wasn't as good as it needed to be in the end."

Hamilton hitters Jordan Middleton and Gryniewicz were a usual strong 1-2 punch. Middleton finished with 20 kills and Gryniewicz had 18. Vanis praised the production of junior outside Beach, who contributed 11 kills. Senior middle Ella Butler added eight kills. Libero Tatum Thomas had 24 digs and setter Melia Barlow piled up 65 assists.

Xavier produced balance on the attack much like Hamilton. Uofficially Emma Soderstrom led in kills with 10, followed by Ava Larkin (9 kills), Workman and McCreery (7 kills apiece) and Isabella Sinacori (5 kills).