Emily Stabilito is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Scottsdale Christian Academy for AZPreps365.com.

TEMPE – For the second straight year, the Scottsdale Christian girls volleyball team will compete for the 2A state title.

The Eagles soared to victory for the 28th time this season on Thursday night, sweeping Trivium Prep in three sets, 25-15, 25-12, and 25-12. 

The top-seeded Eagles (28-4, 14-0)) will face No. 2-seed North Valley Christian (22-4, 16-0)) in the title match at 10 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

On Thursday, junior outside hitter Kaya Olafson was a force to be reckoned with, racking up 20 kills – more than the entire Knights roster, which finished with 14. 

In a rematch of last year’s four-set victory, SCA’s trademark aggressive offense came in waves – highlighted by Olafson’s 7-0 run to open the second frame.

That surge propelled the Eagles to a 15-5 lead. They never trailed again, except for the opening point in the last set.

“We got on top of [Trivium] early, and it was hard for them to rebound,” coach Julie Dickerson said. "We kind of just pushed them a little bit too much. That’s the superpower of our team. We just tell our girls to be Scottsdale Christian – to play our game.”

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Both teams piled on errors – 19 for SCA and 27 for Trivium – something both coaches chalked up to aggressive play. For Dickerson’s Eagles, that’s the tradeoff.

“We actually had more errors tonight than all season, but it’s because we serve aggressively,” she said. “That’s one of the keys to our game, and we’re OK with that as long as we can do other things to bring control back, which we did.” 

Knights coach Beth Wilson agreed that the errors stemmed from intentional risk-taking. That risk proved costly in the final frame, where 10 straight errors quickly backed Trivium into an eight-point deficit.

“We knew we had to play perfectly, and we just didn’t have it in us today,” Wilson said.. “Part of the errors were because we were really working on the aggressive swings and aggressive serves.” 

On the other side of the net, sophomore setter Megan Davidson led SCA with three aces . 

“I had no doubt we’d end up back at State. I mean, coming in, we’re number one,” Davidson said. “We just have the experience now, because we’d been in State last year. We’ve grown so much as friends off the court as well, which helps with our relationships on the court, too.” 

For the past two years, this Eagles squad has taken their fall breaks to bond together in California. Their favorite Disney ride? The Incredicoaster. 

“I’m just so blessed and so grateful,” Davidson said. “I mean, I’m here with all of my best friends – my closest friends – and I’m just so excited to get that medal.” 

For the Knights, the match felt like a roller coaster of its own.

“They had their ups and downs,”  Wilson said. “Sometimes we get caught up in the other side of the net and how to handle it, and we forget to handle our business. That was kind of our focus the last two weeks: knowing we have to keep that energy behind our play regardless of the score.”

Though the Knights were chasing the game for much of the night, Wilson was impressed by their resilience and positive attitude.

“I’m so proud of them,” she said. “They really made it to the top of their game. They played with heart. It just didn’t happen today." 

SCA’s next opponent will be North Valley Christian, who swept Phoenix Country Day, 25-17, 25-15, 25-19, on Thursday. The Eagles fell to PCDS last year in the state championship in three sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-23.  

Dickerson isn’t worried.

“I feel like sometimes it takes a year of experience, and that’s what we got last year,” she said. “I’m hoping we do step up on Saturday, but like we said to our girls tonight, let’s just be Scottsdale Christian, play our game, and allow them to have to adjust to us.”