Most matches that go five sets are full of momentum shifts. Especially when two of the state's best teams are battling.

Tuesday night at Corona del Sol was no different, as the third ranked Aztecs outlasted fourth ranked Sunnyslope, 25-15, 19-25, 25-23, 17-25, 15-7 in an entertaining 6A Central Region showdown.

The win keeps the Aztecs second place in the region, which is 6A's best, with three of the top ranked teams competing in the Central, including Sunnyslope and top-ranked Xavier.

The first game saw Corona del Sol jump out to a 10-2 lead before taking the first game. Considering the Aztects swept the Vikings 3-0 in their first region match, Corona del Sol had compounding momentum with four straight games over the Vikings. 
"We really showed up in that first set and it gave us that early lead," said junior Hayden Conner said. "In that second game we just kind of laid it off and we just didn't have as much energy."

But Sunnyslope fought back in the second game, and the match became a back and forth slugfest before the Aztects pulled away in the final set.

"This is another quality win," Corona del Sol coach Ben Maxfield said afterward. "Sunyslope is a great team and especially a great blocking team. We play our best when we're passing effectively, but when we're predictable, a team like Sunnsyslope is take advantage at the net."

Conner and Alyssa Aguayo combined for 30 kills for the Aztecs, while Allen finished with five kills and six blocks.

Sunnyslope's Georgi Stein and Zoe Hann combined for 28 kills. Laney Wilson added 12. Defensive play and blocking is what changed the match around after the first set. But Corona del Sol was able to weather the ups and downs of the match.

"It's definitely exciting," Conner added of the win. "When you go through all those mistakes and then learn from it...I feel like we really earned it because we left it all on the floor."

Sunnyslope (22-7, 2-3) should feel just as good about its effort. After the first match, the Vikings never trailed in a game by more than three points until the fifth set, when Corona (32-5, 4-1) jumped out to a 6-1 lead.

After the Aztecs got the early surge in game five, Sunnyslope fought back as usual, with Georgi Stein Stein scoring on three kills and closing the gap to 8-5. Stein injured her knee on her third kill and had to leave the match. The Vikings would only score two more points. Aguayo, Conner and Avery Lim scored for Corona del Sol to help close out the match. 

"Well I'm proud because these girls battled and played better than our last match with (Corona)," Sunnyslope coach Amber Greer said after the game. "We played a lot better as the match went on, but Corona finished with the momentum." 
 

Sunnyslope continues Thursday night with a home match against Xavier. Corona del Sol travels to Millennium.