Academy of Tucson inched closer to a Division V playoff spot with a 3-1 (25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 25-13) victory over Elfrida Valley Union on Tuesday.

Academy of Tucson is currently ranked in the top 16, good enough for an at-large bid, but the program came close to falling out after Valley Union came alive midway through the match but they were able to hold on to even their section record at 3-3.

A win for Valley Union, however, might have put them back into contention but they fell to 2-6 in Section 2. Pima (6-0), Desert Christian (4-1), St. David (4-2) and The Gregory School (3-2) are all currently ranked in the top five which makes Division V/Section 2 the most difficult section in the state.

Academy of Tucson's biggest weapon against Valley Union was their serve which accounted for 25 aces with Kami McAuley recording 10 of them.  McAuley also led her team with ten kills.

The Lynx took the first set with ease 25-17 and led the second set 13-8 but Valley Union battled back to tie it at 14-14 and the Lady Devils eventually took a 21-18 lead on a kill from Katie Essary but they went down 22-21 a few moments later. Valley Union eventually took the set 26-24 to tie the match up 1-1.

Valley Union sprinted out to a 12-6 lead in the third set to put a scare in Academy of Tucson but they couldn't hold on and Valley Union won the set 25-20 to go up 2-1. Academy of Tucson had no difficulty in the fourth set and won it 25-13 to take the match 3-1.

Besides McAuley, Zaria Tebou had nine kills and Luisa Daniel added six.  Elizabeth Hutson led Valley Union with seven kills, Essary had six and Sara Hahn had five.

Valley Union will travel to Benson on Thursday and Academy of Tucson will visit St. Augustine next Tuesday. The match against Valley Union was their last at "home" with the team using Green Fields as their home gym this year. Green Fields did not have a team this fall due to low enrollment.

More photos at AllSportsTucson.com