Scottsdale Christian swept its fourth consecutive state championship opponent.

In the three previous seasons, the program made it look easy, but this season was a bit different. It dressed just eight players, transitioned to a new coach and saw its 57-match volleyball win streak against 2A teams end.

And competing in the middle of a pandemic isn’t exactly ideal playing conditions either. But Scottsdale Christian is well-experienced in closing out matches when the stakes are high.

It did so again Saturday to four-peat. But the team it defeated 25-23, 25-17, 25-16 at McClintock earned the big ovation it received from its fans as it exited the gym.

Chandler Prep fought and followed the lead of its coach, the very positive Anthony Jones.

“That’s been our motto all year,” Jones said. “We just have to fight. We start six seniors, so it’s good to have that senior leadership on the court all of the time.”

But Jones’ girls battled a team with just too much firepower, in particular the Wadsworth sisters, Sophia and Sarah.

Sophia will graduate as a 4-time champ along with teammate Kylie Lynne. Sophia and Lynne helped their program win 48 of the 49 state tournament sets they played in their careers.

After the match, the Wadsworth sisters celebrated with their dad, Andre, a former first round pick of the Arizona Cardinals.

“It feels amazing, because we put in so much hard work and effort this season and the past three seasons,” Sophia said. “It feels like all of our hard work paid off.”

(Former Cardinals player Andrew Wadsworth celebrates Scottsdale Chritian's 2020 title with his daughters, Sophia (middle) and Sarah. azpreps365 photo.)

Another senior also was all smiles, Chandler Prep’s Evi Yates, after the match.

At .558, Yates was the state’s hitting percentage leader this season heading into her final match.

"We are going to miss her,” Jones said.

(Chandler Prep's Evi Yates. Photo by Darin Sicurello/maxpreps.com.)

Game highlights

Game 1

Scottsdale Christian was clicking from the start, with setter Lexi Lambert running the offense.

Sophia, Sarah and Mackensi Meluskey found open spots with a variety of shots, as their team jumped ahead 10-4, leading to a Chandler Prep timeout. The timeout helped, as Chandler Prep (22-3) went on a 6-2 run, forcing Scottsdale Christian to take a timeout of its own.

But the four-time defending champ, as it did throughout the match, went to Sophia and Sarah to regain momentum. After their team’s first timeout, Sarah got a kill on the left with two blockers up and Sophia followed with a slide kill going to her right.

Three points later, libero Bella Anderson’s dig led to another Sophia kill and Chandler Prep’s second timeout while trailing 17-12.

Scottsdale Christian led 21-13, 22-16 and 24-19 in the game, but Chandler Prep refused to back down. It took five set points, but Scottsdale Christian finally ended the game after another Sophia slide kill.

Game 2

Scottsdale Christian (16-3) got off to a good start again, highlighted by a solo block by Sophia in the middle.

But Chandler Prep kept battling, taking its first and only lead in the match, 10-9, after kills by Olivia Cadien, Zoe Yates and Mia Evers. Meluskey, a solid third option on the outside in Saturday’s match, then stepped up with a put away to ignite a 11-0 run by Scottsdale Christian.

It took a couple of more set points, but Scottsdale Christian eventually wrapped up the set.

Game 3

Trailing 11-3 in the game and down two sets, Chandler Prep didn’t seem discouraged.

On the contrary, Jones tried to fire up his team.

“Pick up the energy,” he yelled out.

(Chandler Prep. Darin Sicurello/maxpreps.com.)

Down 17-8, his team responded.

The serving of Yates and a kill by her and Holly Gialketsis forced a timeout by Scottsdale Christian, which was leading 22-16. But after kill by Sarah on the right side and two Chandler Prep hitting errors, it was over.

“It’s super exciting,” Lynne said. “It was good that we could pull through in the fourth year. It’s really cool, and Sophia and I started all four years. It’s something that doesn’t happen often.”