O'Connor's Kolten Christenson delivers a kill in the title-match win over Deser Vista (AzPreps365 photo)

Sandra Day O'Connor's Parker Broadway was a serve away Saturday night from helping the Eagles secure the Wolf Howl Invitational title against Desert Vista.

Desert Vista had called time and Broadway returned to the court with his team ahead, 14-12. Broadway promptly smacked his serve into the net giving Desert Vista life. Life that lasted just a few seconds. 

Broadway got another chance and put the finishing touches on the match with a kill after the side out giving the Eagles a come-from-behind, 2-1, victory over the Thunder at Chandler's Coy Payne Gymnasium. Scores were 21-25, 25-19, 15-13. Sandra Day O'Connor defeated Red Mountain handily and Highland in two tight sets to reach the final. Desert Vista swept Perry and downed defending tournament champion Chandler in three sets. It's the fifth year in a row the tournament has crowned a different champion -- Mesa (2014), Brophy (2015), Boulder Creek (2016) and Chandler (2017). 

O'Connor completed the two-day invitational 9-0. Throw in two power-ranking victories earlier in the week and the Eagles are flying high at 11-0. Something to be excited about? O'Connor coach Troy Dueling, a two-time state champion coach at Boulder Creek back in the prep ranks after a year away, tempered the start.

"It's a good start," Dueling said. But it's very early. I'm fortunate coming back that these guys are buying in to what we want to do and doing it the right way. This team has no superstars. That makes us stronger. We'll enjoy this tonight, and get back to work."

Desert Vista (8-3) broke from a 7-7 tie in the first set and never trailed again. Seven players had at least a kill in the set for the Thunder. In the second set O'Connor got busy early, breaking a 4-4 tie and never giving up the lead thereafter. The Eagles led by as many as 10 (19-9).

The deciding set was tight all the way. Neither team led by more than two. Desert Vista's final lead was 11-10. O'Connor scored the next three points - a Broadway kill, one by Jared White and a hitting error by the Thunder. A Broadway's kill pushed the set to match point and you know the rest. Broadway, a senior outside hitter, unoffically finished with 17 kills and sophomore outside Kolten Christenson added 11 kills. 

Desert Vista, which reached the quarterfinals at state last year after a first-round win over O'Connor before bowing out with a loss to Brophy, posted a 6-3 mark in the tournament. They were led by all-tournament team selection Landon Fuller, a junior outside hitter. Joining Fuller on the all-tournament team were Chandler middle blocker Mason Mullins, Broadway, Red Mountain's Drew Grabek, Perry's Collin Hoag, Brophy's Conor Dunn, Boulder Creek's Boston Whitman and Highland's Dean Millett.  Mullins was selected the tournament's most valuable player.