Payne Moses is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert Christian High School for AZPreps365.com.

GILBERT – With nearly every set being a war of attrition, Gilbert Christian’s girls beach volleyball team got the better of Valley Christian, 4-1, on Monday to continue its perfect season.

The visiting Trojans snagged an early 1-0 lead via their five-pair of seniors Bella Burrus and Morgen Hackett winning a three-set marathon (16-21, 21-10, 15-13). But the Knights were equipped with the tools to win close sets, sweeping the final four matches with seven of the eight sets being decided by five or fewer points.

Following a 21-17, 21-18 tie-breaking win by the Gilbert Christian four-pair of senior Kaila Aston and Shay Loth, the two-pair featuring junior Tylee Fox and sophomore Sienna Cathey clinched  the match and a resulting 13-0 record.

 

Gilbert Christian (13-0, 4-0) has outscored its opponents 61-4, shutting out all but three schools. Its biggest scare was a 3-2 win over Arizona College Prep on Feb. 26, the Knights dropping the four- and five-pair matches.

To come away with a victory perhaps meant a little more due to the fact that Valley Christian (9-3, 4-1) was previously 3-0 in the head-to-head series, which began in 2019.

“I absolutely love (the competition) because I like the relationship we have with (Valley Christian),” said junior Alexia Heyn of the good-natured rivalry between the Division II schools. “The relationship can make you compete better.”

“I think it’s healthy competition because every once in a while there’s just that one rival team that you have to beat to be relieved,” Cathey said.

Rally killers

After pushing the narrowest of margins – 17-16 – over the top for a first-set win, the Gilbert Christian three-pair of junior Sidney Loth and freshman Liv Johnson were sitting pretty with a 20-13 advantage over Valley Christian freshman Elyse Wolf and junior Makenna Bizzack.

However, Wolf and Bizzack rattled off five unanswered points and seemed poised to cut the deficit even further. 

One failed serve into the net later, and the Knights quietly pocketed their first point.

Less dramatically, but still of consequence, the Gilbert Christian two-pair featuring Fox and Cathey were knotted up 13-13 in the second set with Valley Christian’s Aubrey Miller and Jasmine Garcia. 

A 7-2 scoring run effectively gave the Knights five set points and they only needed two for a 21-16 win that doubled as the match-clincher.

Valley Christian coach Erica Heeringa said she knows her team improved competing against the best Division II beach volleyball has to offer in 2025. With two matches left in their regular season, the Trojans are ranked No. 14 with 16 schools earning playoff berths. 

“It has been a challenge to kind of find my way,” said Heeringa, a 1993 Valley Christian alum who played and coached indoor volleyball before stepping into a beach volleyball role this season. “It’s kind of a privilege to be out here and come back to do what I love again in this arena.”

No favorites

Throughout the course of the 2025 season, Gilbert Christian has utilized 23 unique pair combinations. Valley Christian is not far behind at 14.

The Knights, however, have had eight players paired up with at least three others and three have shared the sand with six different players (Aston, Shay Loth, Sidney Loth). For the amount of rotation, Gilbert Christian has not only competed at a program-best pace but opponents have only forced three sets on five occasions.

Gilbert Christian coach Bill Tennison said the revolving door of pair partners has been partly due to injuries and some players being committed to other activities. But identifying the best working pairs and their playing order is something he tries to nail down every year.

“I think I’ve played 15 varsity players this year, in the combinations, but our ones and twos (pairs) are the same all the time,” Tennison said. “We’re trying to get it figured out this week and get it done so that it’ll be the same (entering the postseason).”

Dominant duos

No Gilbert Christian pair has been more devastating to opposing schools than its one pairing of Heyn and sophomore Lillie Duitsman. 

The duo moved to 13-0 this season and 24-2 dating back to last year when they first got used to each other’s style on the court. 

In their first season together, the two-pair of Cathey and Fox is 12-0.

Burrus and Hackett have been a force for Valley Christian in the five spot, now 7-0. With four combined matches in the three and four pairs as well, the duo moved to 10-1 overall.

Match-by-match details

Final score: Gilbert Christian 4, Valley Christian 1

Order of finish: 5, 3, 4, 2, 1

1. Alexia Heyn/Lillie Duitsman (GC) def. Haydyn Gerard/Emma Smith (VC) 21-16, 21-6

2. Tylee Fox/Sienna Cathey (GC) def. Aubrey Miller/Jasmine Garcia (VC) 21-16, 21-16

3. Liv Johnson/Sidney Loth (GC) def. Elyse Wolf/Makenna Bizzack (VC) 21-16, 21-18

4. Shay Loth/Kaila Aston (GC) def. Abby Grier/Taylor Miser (VC) 21-17, 21-18

5. Bella Burrus/Morgen Hackett (VC) def. Selah Hommel/Ashley Gast (GC) 16-21, 21-10, 15-13

Up next 

Gilbert Christian (13-0, 4-0) travels to Seton Catholic (10-2, 3-1) for its regular-season finale on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Valley Christian (9-3, 3-1) travels to Seton Catholic (10-2, 3-1) on Tuesday at 4 p.m.