There's an axiom the third time's the charm but excuse Northwest Christian if the Crusaders needed a fourth trip to the 3A boys volleyball championship match to prevail. 

No. 2 seed Northwest Christian won the final two sets, rallying for a 3-2 triumph over No. 1 seed ALA - West Foothills on Saturday at Skyline High School. Scores were 26-24, 21-25, 18-25, 25-16 and 15-8. The Crusaders victory avenged a five-set loss to ALA - West Foothills in the final regular season match on May 1. 

"We played with a lot of heart and grit and we were able to endure," NWC coach Chuck Hunter said. "We switched form a 5-1 to a 6-2 the last two sets. I think that really helped us."

Northwest Christian kicked into gear fairly early in the fourth set. The Crusaders trailed 8-6, took the lead for good at 11-10 and gradually claimed the set going away.

Senior Devon Helmer and sophomore Sam Caldwell were the offensive leaders. Helmer finished with 30 kills and Caldwell added 15.

Junior Lincoln Hubbard delivered nine kills.

The loss was the first non-invitational loss for ALA - West Foothills. The Guardians, coached by Kendra Ritter, were 17-0 in regular-season power-ranking matches.

They lost only three sets in those 17 matches.

A fast start by NWC in the fifth set doomed ALA - West Foothills. The Crusaders reeled off a 7-0 lead and ALA - West Foothills couldn't recover. Three aces from Caldwell began the run, and he served all the points in the run. A Caldwell kill and senior Trace Martin's ace closed out the match.

Sophomore setter Gavin Helmer posted 41 assists and Caldwell led in aces with four. Defensively libero Brooks Martin led with 21 digs and Gavin Helmer added 13. 

ALA-West Foothills had three players rack up double-digits in kills. Brett Sauls led with 14, followed by Zach Saraiva (11) and Cameron Lauer (11).