Zane Cox is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sunrise Mountain for AZPreps365.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. —The Sunrise Mountain volleyball team (17-16, 3-2 Northwest Valley Region) travels to Kellis High School on Oct. 21 in a must-win scenario for the Mustangs as playoffs near. 

The Mustangs are coming off a 3-0 sweep on the road at Centennial on Monday night, while the Cougars are coming off a loss at Willow Canyon on Monday night. 

The Mustangs currently sit in third place in the Northwest Valley region standings, and the Cougars are last in fifth place. 

A win over Kellis sets up a huge three-game week at home next week for the Mustangs. 

The Mustangs host the top two teams in the leagueL Ironwood next Wednesday and Willow Canyon next Thursday. 

If Sunrise Mountain can win both next week and win Wednesday night at Kellis, and Ironwood loses at Willow Canyon on Thursday, it would mean the Mustangs would win their third consecutive Northwest Valley region championship. 

You can’t look too far in advance, though, because the Mustangs need a win over Kellis on Wednesday night.

“I just tell the team to expect the best from every team we play and never overlook a team,” Sunrise Mountain head coach Brandi Jans said. “We have to play one game at a time.” 

This will be the second meeting of the year between Sunrise Mountain and Kellis. The first meeting took place on Oct. 7, where the Mustangs swept the Cougars 3-0.

Kellis is struggling this season. The Cougars are 4-9 overall, and 0-5 in Northwest Valley region play. The Cougars haven’t won a set in region play this season. 

“We just need to come out strong and not play down to their level,” senior outside hitter Alexandria Muller said. 

The Mustangs have found high productivity on offense from Muller as of late. Muller had 12 kills in their win against Centennial. 

“She is an all-around great player and really helps this team,” Jans said of Muller. 

Muller leads the team in kills with 201 on the season. Muller also leads the team in receptions with 410. 

Muller gives credit to her ability to “hit back row," something she struggled with earlier in the season. 

Senior libero Hailey Brueggeman has also been a vital key to success for the Mustangs this season. Brueggeman has had 10-plus digs in each of the last eight games for the Mustangs. 

“If we play our game and keep being consistent, we will be fine,” Brueggeman said. 

Jans also attributes the recent success to “staying consistent.” The Mustangs have won five in a row heading into Wednesday night. They are 11-2 in their last 13 sets. 

Although the Mustangs are getting hot at just the right time, with playoffs looming, Jans still wants to see improvement in their rotations and more scoring from different rotations. 

“We need to do a better job at not getting as many points and a run in a specific rotation,” Jans said.

In a game where the Mustangs are expected to win against a struggling Kellis, anything is possible. Especially when Kellis has the chance to end a three-peat Northwest Valley region title shot for the Mustangs. 

“We have three huge games next week at home, but we just need to focus on the next one and keep the momentum going,” Jans said.