Top seed O'Connor (33-1) was challenged more extensively by No. 4 Queen Creek (31-11) during the Nov. 8 girls volleyball semifinal than the final score of 25-18, 25-18, 25-15 indicates.

As they've done all season, the Eagles adapted and overcame, finishing the sets with emphatic runs.

Now O'Connor has a second chance in three years to win the 6A title. They play #7 seed Gilbert Perry (23-10) in the 6A state final at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 in Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix.

“Compared to the mindset from two years ago, I think we’re ready this year,” senior libero Kinsley Singleton said.

Queen Creek came out playing relentless and physical volleyball, grabbing a 15-10 lead.

The home team had to find a way around the Bulldogs' high level block.

“It was a conversation about not being afraid of their block, learning how to hit into it a little bit differently. We don’t hit low into it. If we’re going to go in, we’re going to challenge the block. We’re going to go after the line, not the middle,” O'Connor coach Amanda Burbridge said.

The Eagles changed the course of the match, scoring the last 10 points of the first set to win after trailing 18-15.

Now the large home crowd in north Phoenix was behind the Eagles.

“The crowd was huge. I feel like there were a lot of nerves in the beginning, and then we settled in. When we able to use the crowd to our advantage, especially with our big student section,” junior setter Addison France said.

But the resilient Bulldogs would not cave in. Queen Creek broke out to a 13-9 lead in the second set.

“We knew they were not going to tap out. We were going to have to finish it,” Burbridge said.

Queen Creek coach Erica Crismon's team swept Corona del Sol to earn the #4 seed, then swept Sunnyslope - the only team  to beat O'Connor this year - to get here.

The aptly-named Bulldogs were not intimidated.

"They're fighters who love to compete. We compete in practice every day," Crismon said. "This year they're especially good at shutting out those distractions. They play for each other. They know what's on the line and know how good O'Connor is."

France had three kills and two blocks in her setter position during the final stretch of the second set.

That ability of multiple Eagles to attack, pretty much everybody on the court besides Singleton, makes this team special, Burbridge said.

“It’s always so fun when I’m able to get points because it hypes the team up so much,” France said.

Wednesday night junior outside hitter Devyn Wiest was again the top attacker with 17 kills. Five other O'Connor players finished with between four and seven kills.

Sophomore Leylan Duran added five critical blocks. Singleton had 15 digs and fellow senior Piper Rama added 13.

“They are specialized, but they are very good volleyball players. In practice they go hard against each other. They’re going to challenge each other to play harder and be more versatile,” Burbridge said.

The Bulldogs completed one of the best seasons in school history. Queen Creek played for a 5A state title in 2017, then moved up to 6A. This was the program's first semifnal at the big school division.

Queen Creek ran the gamut of emotions Wednesday, which started with a signing day ceremony for several college-bound seniors.

"Blaykli Bobik, I've known her since she was 5 years old. She was a Mountain View kid and her family moved to Queen Creek to come play for me and absolutely immersed themselves in the program," Crismon said. "She was the first. Maddy Crjnac followed. She could have been a Desert Ridge kid. Maycee Mercado transferred from Eastmark after her freshman year and Hayley Cutchen transferred from Eastmark after her junior year. They all wanted to play together. A big to shout out to those kids and special seniors that made this program."