It’s often said the third time is a charm. In team sports, the third title in a row is a dynasty.

Horizon’s volleyball program now holds that distinction, after capturing its third straight 5A State Championship Friday night at Arizona’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

In a match for the ages, the Huskies were able to hold off Millenium in five thrilling sets, 27-25, 31-29, 10-25, 17-25, 15-11. In addition to capturing its third straight title, it was Horizon’s sixth Volleyball Championship in school history.

Millennium—a perennial volleyball power in its own right—dropped the title match to the Huskies for the third consecutive year.

“This just feels amazing because we had to work for it all year and especially in this match,” senior Teraya Sigler said afterward.

“We found out early in the season, there were no teams who were just gonna lay down for us. I think it made us a better team by the playoffs.”

Horizon finished 32-10, including an early season loss to Millennium.

Sigler played brilliantly Friday night, especially at the most crucial times, finishing with 30 kills and 29 digs to lead all players. 21 of her 30 kills came during the first two sets, when the teams combined for 17 lead changes. In the second set, each team had three different shots to serve for the win.

Despite the emotion and exhaustion of losing the first two sets, Millennium wasn’t about to give in. The Tigers came out determined and dominant in the third set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead and eventually winning 25-10. Millennium continued its elevated play into the fourth set, winning handily 25-10. The trio of Gabbi Kucinski, Anne Brauckmiller and Talea Mitchell combined for 48 kills, making for a balanced and potent offensive attack as the match progressed.

But Horizon found its magic in set five, as well as its own offensive balance. Along with Sigler, Sky Gartin, Camryn Fischer and Sienna Markovich all had two kills a piece in the final set.

“We really have to give credit to Millennium,” Sigler added. “They were really outplaying us for a while, but I think it forced us to focus and dig down deep.”

First year Horizon coach McKenna Skaggs–a Husky alumnus–was a part of Horizon’s first state championship team in 2009.

So when Skaggs was chosen to take over this season for legendary coach Valorie McKenzie, she was no stranger to the expectations or the pressure.

“We really wanted to pull of the three-peat, but we had to earn it and certainly wasn’t easy,” Skaggs said.

“Some of the losses we dealt with helped us remember it has to be earned.”