(Times photo - Paul Natonabah)
Monument Valley's Bradley Nash (9) hits the ball over the outstretched hands of Tuba City's Jamie Roe (20) and Dakota Yazzie (8) during the 3A North Region volleyball championship game. Monument Valley, once undefeated, lost, 3-2.
FORT DEFIANCE, Nov. 6, 2008
T he Tuba City Lady Warriors are smiling from ear-to-ear.
It's not because they earned a ticket to play in the 3A state volleyball championships or because they're the new 3A North Region volleyball champions.
It's because they beat Monument Valley.
"It's like some kind of thrill that goes through your body," Tuba City's Paulette Begay said. "It's exciting."
The excitement last through five games, three of which Tuba City won, 18-25, 25-21, 25-10, 17-25, 15-11.
Tuba City will face No. 14 Winslow at Bradshaw High School in Prescott, Ariz., on Friday, in the first round of the state championships.
As the crowd filled up the Window Rock High gym, the anticipation was obvious because Monument Valley was the No. 1 team in the region who went through the regular season undefeated. Tuba City was No. 2.
Monument Valley wrapped up the first game, 25-18.
"They can always have a slow start," Tuba City head coach Evelyn Kiyanni said.
Tuba City came back in Game 2 to pull off a close 25-21 win. The win wasn't easy as power-hitter Bradley Nash rallied with nearly 10 kills in the second game.
But Monument Valley's lack of focus cost them the game and Tuba City tied the match 1-1.
"We just kind of lost focus and we missed serves," Nash said, adding that she noticed a change in confidence in the Lady Warriors. "Their perseverance. It wasn't so close in the first game, but they came back."
Tuba City's hunger was apparent as they took Game 3 with an intimidating 25-10 and 2-1 match lead.
With about eight kills of her own, Tuba City junior and power-hitter Dakota Yazzie said the points were almost handed to her.
"I could see two blockers when I go up, with my past experience playing against MV I know what parts are open," Yazzie said.
Being the dominating team they are, Monument Valley wasn't about to let a perfect season go.
"We knew we had the game," Monument Valley senior Xaviera Hunter said. "We practiced and we practiced hard, it just wasn't enough."
Barely pulling through in Game 3, the Mustangs were able to tie the match 2-2 to force a fifth and final game.
With the help of Dimitra Sam, Jessica Tsinnie and Begay, the Lady Warriors made some adjustments to their front row that prevented Nash from scoring.
And it worked.
Tuba City took Game 5 with a 15-11 win, after both teams bounced back and fourth on the scoreboard.
Monument Valley head coach Lucinda Nash said mistakes got the best of her team.
"Tuba City put together a great game. Upsets like that can happen," she said. "My hitters were making too many errors. It was our own errors."
Lucinda Nash said while her team beat Tuba City numerous times in the season she noticed how they got better every game by winning on more game each time they met.
"You are supposed to get better, you could see that in Tuba City," she said, adding that Yazzie played well, making it difficult to block and pass.
Monument Valley will face No. 16 Ganado at Prescott High School in Prescott, Ariz., on Friday.
The win couldn't have been more rewarding than it was for Tsinnie, who is the only senior on the Tuba City team.
Tsinnie finished Game 5 with a clean kill to Monument Valley's mid court.
"Before Game 5, when we got in the huddle, coach told us to think of practice and all the hard work," Tsinnie said. "Being the only senior on the team, that's how much I wanted to win. There was just something about this game that we knew we could win it."
Tuba City coach Kiyanni said for her, her team's ability to pick themselves back up after a mistake was what won the match.
"They were resilient," Kiyanni said. "The main thing that I told them before the fifth game was just remember the hard work you put in all season long...now's the time to put it together. Now's the time to shine."
All-Region Player of the Year is Tuba City's Dakota Yazzie. Named all-conference were Tuba City's Dimitra Sam, Loveleen Hurley and Sherry Hudson. Named honorable mention were Tuba City's Palette Begay and Jessica Tsinnie.
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