By Al Bravo

Defending state champion Phoenix Xavier looked to have Chandler Hamilton on the ropes – and the teams went to the limit and beyond before deciding a state finalist.

In a classic five-set match, No. 2 seed Hamilton edged third-seeded Xavier 16-14 in the final game of Saturday’s state Division I volleyball semifinals at Gilbert Mesquite.

The Huskies, who lost to Xavier in the state final a year ago, will face No. 1 Phoenix Desert Vista on Wednesday night in the championship match at Mesquite. The Thunder eliminated No. 5 Chandler Basha in three sets in the final match of the day.

“Coming into this match, we knew it was going to be close because Xavier always knows how to put up a fight, but we prepared a lot for this,” sophomore middle Preslie Anderson said. “We were ready for whatever they were going to give us.”

Xavier looked to be in control after winning the first and third games easily – 25-15 and 25-16. Hamilton just got by the Gators 25-22 in the second set.

“We were in control, but even in those games we were missing blocking assignments, and once they started to cook it became very difficult for us to regain the momentum,” Xavier coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said.

But Hamilton seemed to find its offense in game four, finding Anderson, McKenna Woodford and Kayla Banyai and running off seven straight points after holding a slim 16-14 lead. Anderson had three kills and a pair of blocks during that final stretch, including the final two points.

“Every time we have played Xavier in the state tournament it’s been like that,” Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis said. “But usually it’s the other way around. The two games they beat us, they beat us pretty good. The resilience, the confidence, the play of my girls, I couldn’t be more proud. They could have easily let up.”

In the deciding set, Hamilton broke open a 8-7 game with four straight points, taking advantage of Xavier errors but only to see the Gators storm back with five straight points of their own. Hitter Khalia Lanier started the run, and her kills tied the game at 13 and 14.

Johnson got Hamilton to match point, and then Lanier uncharacteristically hit the ball into the net on a kill attempt, ending the Gators season.

Johnson finished the night with 19 kills while Woodford added 17 and 15 digs. Hailey Babcock added 24 digs.

Xavier had been in the final the last two years and won the state title five times between 2005 and 2010.

In the nightcap Saturday, 6-foot-8 junior middle Rachael Kramer was a force with seven kills as the Thunder easily advanced. Although Basha led early in both of the first two games, Desert Vista found its adjustments to reach the final for the first time since 2008.

Division II

Tucson Ironwood Ridge got over the proverbial hump, reaching the state final after losing in the semifinals two years in a row.

The top-seeded Nighthawks beat No. 4 Scottsdale Notre Dame in four sets to reach Wednesday’s Division II final at Mesquite. Ironwood Ridge will face defending Division II champ Phoenix Sunnyslope, a straight-set winner over Tucson Catalina Foothills earlier on Saturday.

Ironwood Ridge pulled out a 25-18, 26-24, 22-25, 25-22 win over Notre Dame to advance to the state final for the first time since 2004. The Nighthawks have reached the final four the last eight years.

Aunesty Jantz led the Nighthawks with 13 kills, while Sarah Gosciminski added 12 and Jordan Weatherless had seven. She also had 33 assists.

For Ironwood Ridge, the best obstacle was 6-foot-3 hitter Willow Johnson – daughter of former Arizona Diamondbacks Cy Young-award winning pitcher Randy Johnson. The left-handed junior had 29 kills to pace the Saints.

Sunnyslope, which swept Ironwood Ridge in the semifinals a year ago, had little problem with the other Southern Arizona entry in the Division II tourney.

The Vikings were led by Skylar Wine, who had 12 kills, and Libby Fleury with seven. Setter Katie Oleksak added 29 assists and two blocks.

Sunnyslope has won the state title two of the last three years.