Highland volleyball opened the 2022 season playing host to Rincon/University. The Hawks prevailed that evening with a decisive sweep.

Postseason began Tuesday and returning to try and settle that score was Rincon/University. The result, however, was the same. Highland raced to 10-2 lead in the opening set and cruised to a 25-8, 25-18, 25-12 triumph in a 6A play-in match at Highland High.

Twelfth-seed Highland (22-14-3) advances to Thursday's first round of the state tournament. The Hawks take to the road against an opponent to be determined after all play-in matches are recorded. #21 Rincon/University finished its season 22-13.

Highland leveled a heavy dose of attack-leader Zoe John from the get-go. John, who amassed 317 kills this season, collected three as the Hawks set the tone with a quick 5-0 lead. John finished with a team-high 13 kills. 

Rincon/University didn't manage a better start in the second set. The Rangers trailed as much as 15-4 before settling in to make the set competitive. They pared the deficit to 23-18, but a hitting error and ace by the Hawks Danica Singleton finished the set.

The third set saw Rincon/University lead 5-4. The Rangers couldn't sustain it. Highland reeled off a 10-1 run that featured five aces (three by John and two from Marie Geigle). The Hawks finished the closing set with eight kills among its final 11 points. Five players supplied those kills -- Singleton, John, Jewel Carling, Caroline Munson and Abigail Klinkhamer.

Leading Rincon/University offensively was its season-kill leader, senior Graciela Escobar. Escobar tallied seven kills.

In other 6A play-in matches, #9 Xavier topped #24 Mountain Ridge 3-0 on Monday. On Tuesday #16 Pinnacle 3-1 over Marana; #18 Chandler 3-1 over #15 Red Mountain; #11 Mesa Mtn. View 3-0  over #22 Boulder Creek; #13 Desert Vista 3-0 over #20 Basha; #14 Shadow Ridge 3-0 over #19 Maricopa and #10 Valley Vista 3-1 over #23 Mesa.

The state tournament brackets for 6A through 2A will be announced Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on the AIA bracket show on azpreps365.com.