Sunset on Summer Tournament Recap and Standouts

Another exciting weekend of volleyball is in the books for Arizona! This week, we covered Combs High School's second annual Sunset on Summer Tournament, which brought high-level competition from across the Valley. The talent pool ranged from rising 2A programs to powerhouse 5A squads, showcasing the depth and diversity of Arizona volleyball. After a full day of intense matchups on Friday, the Gold Bracket featured a stacked lineup: ALA Ironwood, Crismon, Scottsdale Christian, Paradise Honors, Rio Rico, Fountain Hills, Winslow, and Rancho Solano.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Final Four </h2>   The final 4 consisted of Rancho Solano Mustangs (2A), Scottsdale Christian (2A), Paradise Honors (5A), and Crismon (4A).   Paradise Honors and Rancho Solano faced off twice on Saturday in a thrilling tournament showdown. Their first meeting came in the quarterfinals, where Rancho Solano came out strong. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='806789' first='Miley' last='Avenell'] led the charge with 8 kills, assisted by setter [player_tooltip player_id='879877' first='Maya' last='Blair'], who notched 11 assists and hit a .269 average. The Mustangs edged out Paradise Honors in three hard-fought sets: 25-18, 25-22, and 15-12. But Paradise Honors wasn't done. After defeating ALA Ironwood in a tough three-set match, they clawed their way back into the semifinals for a rematch against the Mustangs. This time, they came out firing. In a dominant first set, Paradise Honors stunned Rancho Solano with a 25-6 win, led by junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='830485' first='Brielle' last='Tippins'] and senior setter/right-side Ashley Persha, whose dynamic attacking and smart shots kept the Mustangs off balance. Rancho Solano answered back in set two, winning 25-22 behind stellar defense from senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='792469' first='Bree' last='Howard'], who recorded 14 digs. However, in the decisive third set, Paradise Honors pulled through with a 15-13 victory, securing the third-place title and ending the day on a high note.   After a dominant semifinal win over Rancho Solano, the Crismon Rattlers advanced to the championship match of the 2025 Sunset on Summer tournament, ready to challenge the undefeated Scottsdale Christian Eagles — a team that had yet to drop a single set all tournament. Crismon came in strong with standout performances from junior right-side [player_tooltip player_id='887227' first='Edyn' last='Morton'], who hit an impressive .333, and [player_tooltip player_id='804659' first='Aubrey' last='Alexander'], who added a solid .275 hitting percentage. But the Rattlers couldn't slow down the powerhouse SCA squad. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='827140' first='Lucy' last='Dickerson'] and sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='882728' first='Megan' last='Davidson'] anchored the Eagles' defense, making it nearly impossible for Crismon to score. Up front, Georgia commit [player_tooltip player_id='874855' first='Selah' last='Wadsworth'] and junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='806073' first='Kaya' last='Olafson'] exploited every gap in the Rattlers' defense with precision and power.   Scottsdale Christian cruised to victory in straight sets, 25-13 and 25-17, claiming the 2025 Sunset on Summer title without dropping a single set. To top it off, SCA's [player_tooltip player_id='806073' first='Kaya' last='Olafson'] and Crismon's senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='804659' first='Aubrey' last='Alexander'] were named to the All-Tournament Team for their outstanding performances throughout the weekend.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Final 4 Standouts </h2>   The level of talent in the gym was impossible to miss, with standout performances coming from every corner of the court. From rising 2A programs to powerhouse 5A squads, athletes brought intensity, skill, and passion to every match. Across the board, setters, hitters, and defenders stepped up in big moments — making for an action-packed weekend.   Here are the players who truly caught our attention throughout the Sunset on Summer tournament — the ones who didn't just play the game, but elevated it.   Rancho Solano   #3 [player_tooltip player_id='827824' first='Sofia' last='Smith'] despite standing at just 5'7", she made a massive impact with her impressive vertical and relentless energy. She consistently put up a strong block on the right side, shutting down some of the tournament's most powerful outside hitters. Offensively, her sharp line swings were a constant threat, breaking through defensive systems and earning her key points in high-pressure moments.   Paradise Honors   #15 [player_tooltip player_id='830485' first='Brielle' last='Tippins'] has such undeniable court presence both offensively and defensively. With solid serve receive and killer defense, she poses a threat as a 6 rotation OH. She can read the game and know when to unleash her power or to make the smart shot to throw off a defensive system. With a dominate attack from the front and back row, she's incredibly hard to stop and such a weapon for her team. #1 [player_tooltip player_id='886521' first='Ashlyn' last='Persha'] executes deceptive plays to outsmart the defense. She knows where her best attackers are at all times, and also poses a threat as an attacker herself. With a deathly swing down the line, she's hard to stop.   Crismon   #12 OH Aubery Alexander as a powerful offensive threat, Aubrey does a great job of consistently terminating out of system balls. She stays calm and collected under pressure and in tight moments, and really is a force for her team.   #11 RS [player_tooltip player_id='845318' first='Camryn' last='Gallup'] is a threat that each team had a hard time defending. She mixes power with finesse — a smart and strategic hitter who has mastered the pin attack on both sides.   Scottsdale Christian   #2 OH [player_tooltip player_id='806073' first='Kaya' last='Olafson'] is an absolute force at the net. She brings energy and intensity every time she steps on the court. Kaya's quick and unstoppable tempo attacks along side her incredible setter connection were a huge reason the eagles never dropped a set.   #3 S [player_tooltip player_id='882728' first='Megan' last='Davidson'] demonstrates quick hands and clean technique each time she steps out on the court. Although she's surrounded by a talented offense on this team, they absolutely cannot shine without her precision.   #1 OH [player_tooltip player_id='874855' first='Selah' last='Wadsworth'] showed us why she's a division 1 commit. A composed competitor with a killer instinct, she brings such a calm, collected and professional presence to the SCA eagles.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention Standouts </h2>   ALA Ironwood MB #16 [player_tooltip player_id='813397' first='Faith' last='Brady']   Rancho Solano OH #6 [player_tooltip player_id='806789' first='Miley' last='Avenell']   Rancho Solano S/RS #2 [player_tooltip player_id='879877' first='Maya' last='Blair']   Scottsdale Christian L #12 [player_tooltip player_id='827140' first='Lucy' last='Dickerson']   Windslow OH #15 Kaitlyn Belone

Another exciting weekend of volleyball is in the books for Arizona! This week, we covered Combs High School's second annual Sunset on Summer Tournament, which brought high-level competition from across the Valley. The talent pool ranged from rising 2A programs to powerhouse 5A squads, showcasing the depth and diversity of Arizona volleyball. After a full day of intense matchups on Friday, the Gold Bracket featured a stacked lineup: ALA Ironwood, Crismon, Scottsdale Christian, Paradise Honors, Rio Rico, Fountain Hills, Winslow, and Rancho Solano.