By Don Ketchum

The two defending champions are poised for their chance at a three-peat. Will it happen?

The answer will be revealed on Tuesday (Nov. 9) at the Class 4A Division I and II state volleyball finals at Gilbert Mesquite High.

Fifth-seeded Chandler Seton Catholic, which has won two straight in 4A-II, was runner-up in 2007 and won back-to-back Class 3A titles in 2005 and 2006, will meet No. 7 seed Peoria Liberty at 5:45 p.m.

That will be followed by an 8 p.m. 4A-I title match between two-time defending state champion Phoenix Sunnyslope and Prescott. Sunnyslope is seeded fourth, Prescott sixth.

The Class 5A Division I and Division II title matches will follow the same format on Wednesday at Mesquite.

Liberty has been open less than five years, and the volleyball team appears to be close to matching the exploits of the football team, which has a combined 19-1 record over the last two seasons.

Liberty stunned third-seeded Phoenix Arcadia in the volleyball semifinals, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to win three straight games. The Lions feature a good mix of five seniors, five juniors and three sophomores. Junior outside hitter Noel Pauga is one of the leaders.

According to newspaper reports, Seton coach James Felton said his team is playing its best volleyball right now. The Sentinels defeated top-seeded Glendale Cactus in four games in the semifinals.

Seton is led by outside hitter Haley Lawless, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter who is being strongly recruited by NCAA Division I schools, including Arizona and Arizona State.

Sunnyslope also has a star outside hitter, 6-1 senior Madison Kingdon, who has committed to Arizona.

Kingdon roams along the net for the Vikings, unleashing powerful kills and blocking opponents’ shots with uncanny regularity.

But there is more to Sunnyslope than Kingdon. Heidi Thompson is one of the best setters in the state. The team has decent height up front.

Prescott, however, will not be intimidated. The Badgers split their season series with Sunnyslope, winning in five games at home, and defeated third-seeded Queen Creek in the state semifinals.