Salpointe Catholic’s two-year-old sand volleyball program is one win away from capturing its first state championship.
The second-seeded Lancers face No. 1 Phoenix Xavier on Wednesday in the Division I state final at Gilbert Mesquite, scheduled for 6 p.m.
The four-time defending state champion Gators have lost only once in four seasons, since sand volleyball became a sanctioned sport in Arizona. Xavier beat Salpointe 4-1 in its season opener and again a few weeks later in a tournament.
Salpointe, on the other hand, is in its first year eligible to qualify for the postseason. The Lancers have won five straight matches, topping Flagstaff Coconino and Phoenix O’Connor to reach the championship round of the eight-team tournament.
“We’ve made a lot of strides this year,” Lancers coach Heather Moore-Martin. “We just need to stay loose, have fun and look to each other and remember we’ve all put in a lot of hours. We’ve made the commitment and the concerted effort and it’s paying off. We’re a lot better at volleyball.”
Salpointe (9-3) beat O’Connor 3-2 in the semifinals on Thursday, to avenge a loss to the Eagles back on April 12. The Lancers have not lost since.
“It just shows it’s possible,” Moore-Martin said. “Just by opening the door and trying sand, you give kids the opportunity. Sand is a viable sport. You can see that with the Pac-12 today. More kids can pay for school with scholarships, especially in girls athletics, and that’s just an amazing thing.”
