Harry Kaseff is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism graduate student assigned to cover Corona del Sol High School for AZPreps365.com

TEMPE – Emotions were high at Corona del Sol on Thursday during the pregame Senior Night ceremony, which honored the team manager and nine Aztec players.

Corona got off to a quick start and didn't look back as they won in straight sets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-11.

“We still had a game after the ceremony. We locked in,” senior middle blocker Hayden Conner said. “I took a deep breath. I felt like winning this game is what matters right now.”

Senior Night started off with about a 30-minute ceremony honoring the Aztec seniors. Many players were emotional, but once the match started, Corona was all business.

“These girls have been my best friends since around sixth grade,”  said senior libero Erin Clark, who is a team captain headed to the University of Alabama next year. “It’s a lot of people that I love and that I’ll miss so much when I’m very far away from home next year.”

The Aztecs stormed out to a 12-5 lead thanks to a six-point run. Conner got a solo block and sophomore middle blocker Mikaela Lee-Tsosie followed that up with consecutive kills.

Corona never trailed in the first set and won 25-14.

“I had so many people come out for me tonight,” Conner said. “I always want to make them proud and show out for them because they came all this way.”

Millennium started the second set off hot behind two kills and a block from junior outside hitter Katelyn McKinley. After senior outside hitter Essence Gilmer scored three kills within seven points, the Tigers had a 9-7 lead.

That’s when Clark went on a seven-point serving run. She mixed in short serves to keep Millennium off-balance.

“We serve short to cause confusion… it makes them uncomfortable sitting back for a deep serve all the time,” Aztecs coach Ben Maxfield said. “Now they’re like ‘uh oh, it’s going to be shorter.’”

Senior outside hitter Mira Banks scored three after Clark’s run, to give the Aztecs the second set victory, 25-19.

Corona went on a five-point run to start the third set behind four kills from three different players. Banks tallied two kills, Conner scored once and senior opposite Taryn Vessely also scored.

With the Aztecs leading 12-8, Clark went on another seven-point serving run. Her well-placed serves, combined with kills and blocks from Banks, Conner and Vessely, gave Corona an 18-8 lead. The Aztecs went on to win the third set, 25-11.

Conner, who is committed to the University of Washington, went on to score three more kills, bringing her total to 14 on the night.

“I really want to leave on a good note and be remembered as an athlete, and as a great human,” Conner said.

The Aztecs dominated defensively thanks to 81 digs. Senior defensive specialist Adrya Vance contributed 24 digs, while Clark had 17.

“My teammates respect the way I lead,” Clark said. “I always try to lead by example and be a role model for the younger girls.”

The defensive effort allowed Banks and Conner to tally double-digit kills. Conner led the way with 14 with Banks adding 12.

Millennium (19-17) hosts Sunnyslope (21-12) on Monday at 6 p.m.

Corona del Sol (30-5) plays at top-ranked Xavier College Prep (28-2) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.