Sky Pointe caps inaugural season with Class 3A title
Sky Pointe boys volleyball coach Kristi Driscoll’s sons, Carson and Jaegen, played at Arbor View last year because the Eagles didn’t have a team.
They had one this year though — a state championship one, at that.
Sky Pointe (22-8) worked its way to a 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory over Mojave (23-9) on Thursday night to cap its inaugural season with the Class 3A state championship at Arbor View High School.
A rowdy student section rushed the court after championship point to celebrate with the players before an event official cleared the premises.
The celebration continued near the bleachers, and in the hallway.
“Just to get the name on the map, it’s incredible,” the coach said. “It’s incredible for our school.”
The Eagles started the season with just three players — including the Driscoll brothers — who had played competitive volleyball at any level. But they had athletes, and the coaching staff used the regular season to teach fundamentals and develop chemistry.
Sky Pointe posted a 13-3 record in Class 3A Southern League play, finishing second behind Mojave, which went 15-1 in league.
But the Eagles were slightly superior on Thursday.
They controlled the first set, and most of the second set, too, until the Rattlers rallied behind their serving and hitting. Sky Pointe regrouped, though, and used a 13-3 run to seize control of the third set.
“We (focus on) first to five. Five points at a time,” Driscoll said. “First to five, first to 10, first to 15. If we can make those little rolls, they’re achievements that we celebrate, then we move on to the next.”
Jaegen Driscoll helped lead the charge with 26 kills. Brother Carson added eight kills and 33 assists, and Nestor Quevedo keyed the defense with nine digs.
Mojave had its chances in the fourth set, but a couple unforced errors provided the Eagles an opportunity to come back.
And eventually, they did.
Bump.
Set.
Spike.
Championship.
“I never thought it would happen, to be honest,” Jaegen Driscoll said moments after sealing the match with a kill. “At first it was rough, but through practice we went step by step. We just took baby steps, and eventually, we bonded together and pushed through.”
Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.