Stephen Smith is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Thunderbird  High School for AZPreps365.com

Pushed to the brink in the third and fourth sets, Thunderbird had to weather a storm at Paradise Honors on Thursday night. The Titans found momentum late in the final two sets, prevailing in four sets over the Panthers, 25-16, 18-25, 26-24, 26-24.

Paradise Honors entered Thursday’s match 3-0 in 4A region play and looked to lay down a marker against Thunderbird.

“Our school has never won the region, so there was a lot of pressure on this game,” Paradise Honors coach Megan Domingo said. “It was a must-win.”

In the first set, Thunderbird was not fazed by the raucous atmosphere created by the Paradise Honors student section. Both teams traded points early and, following a Panthers timeout, a kill by Titans senior Hayven Lick pushed Thunderbird’s lead to 17-13.

Sophomore Sophia Frandsen and Lick saw the first set out with a kill and an ace, respectively, to secure the set, 25-16, for Thunderbird.

Lick finished the match with 20 kills, six aces and one block, while Frandsen had six kills. 

The Panthers responded early in the second set, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead. Thunderbird chipped away throughout this set but struggled to bridge the gap entirely. A flurry of points from Thunderbird saw them cut into the Panthers’ lead, and at 19-17, Domingo called a timeout to slow the Titans’ momentum.

Her team responded with a 6-1 run to win the second set, 25-18, knotting the match at one set apiece. 

Much like the first two sets, the third set began with both sides unable to build a sizable lead. Paradise Honors senior captain Vanessa Lobrigo found a groove in this set, notching kills throughout and a crucial block to give her side a 19-14 advantage.

“Vanessa is a phenomenal player,” Domingo said. “She is hungry and has a great connection with her teammates.”

Facing a significant deficit in a hostile environment, the Titans found themselves in an unfamiliar position, a situation that Thunderbird coach Carly Price felt was important for their growth.

“We are working on building mental toughness,” Price said. “We want to be able to calm the chaos that happens on our side of the court and cause chaos on the opposing side.”

The Titans did just as their coach hoped, causing chaos late in the third set. Kills from Lick and senior Naomi Walsh tied the score at 22, and two consecutive aces from Lick broke a 24-24 tie, winning the third set for Thunderbird in stunning fashion, 26-24.

Buoyed by their end to the third set, Thunderbird built a 13-6 lead. The Panthers fought back, capitalizing on errors by Thunderbird and the play of Lobrigo and sophomore Brielle Tippins to turn the set on its head and take a 21-17 lead. 

Following a Lobrigo kill, Thunderbird faced a 23-20 deficit and the possibility of a decisive fifth set. Frandsen and sophomore Kaelyn Bergen promptly rattled off two kills and two aces, respectively, to regain the lead, 24-23. Tippins responded with a kill to bring her team total to 24, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. 

A kill by Thunderbird gave the Titans a 25-24 advantage and a massive block by Walsh secured the fourth set and the victory for the visitors. 

“Blocking under pressure is what I excel at,” Walsh said. “I knew I had to put everything I had into that block. I was blocking to not only get a touch but also to get the finishing point.”

Price was happy with the outcome but understands there are lessons her team can take from a match as close as Thursday night’s.

“A win is a win. It is always great to win, especially against a regional rival,” Price said. “I think we still have a lot of work to do.”

Thunderbird (9-2,4-0) will play in the Goldwater Volleyball Festival this weekend. Paradise Honors will travel to Greenway (8-3,3-1) on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.