In a top-five 5A Conference matchup, Gilbert (8-0) boys volleyball defeated reigning state champion Casteel (6-3) in straight sets Tuesday to remain undefeated.
The No. 2 Tigers overpowered the No. 5 Colts behind powerful serves and a strong performance by outside hitter Trenton Moser to win 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-17). Casteel almost rallied to win the second set, but it was too little, too late as hitting errors and passing mistakes came back to haunt the Colts throughout the match.
“We spotted them a lot of points,” Casteel head coach Ryan Meyn said. “When you’re playing teams this good, it’s going to be difficult to come back from that, so a lot of the damage was self-inflicted tonight.”
Entering the match, Moser ranked second in the state in hitting percentage (0.430) and kills (234), while setter Beau Whatcott led all Arizona players in assists with 424. Although his team has the right pieces, Gilbert head coach Joe Hesse feels the Tigers are still not at their best because they had not been truly tested before Tuesday.
The match at Gilbert High School marked the first 5A San Tan Region clash of the year for both teams. In a region full of playoff hopefuls and title contenders, both coaches will have a better chance of evaluating where they stand with the playoffs approaching.
“Our non-region schedule has been pretty soft,” Hesse said. “Our region is probably the strongest region in 5A, so we have a lot to still see about ourselves.”
Last season, Gilbert reached the semifinals before losing 3-1 to eventual runner-up Cienega, which lost the 5A final to Casteel in straight sets. Behind the leadership and strong play of Moser, a BYU commit, the Tigers are in a good position to capture their first state championship since 2012.
Casteel faces a different challenge this season. With five seniors from last year’s title-winning team gone, the Colts seek to go back-to-back with a younger, though talented, roster.
Casteel middle blocker Shawn Baggs, one of three seniors on the team, entered Tuesday’s match with the third most blocks in the state with 68. Junior libero Blake Ross ranks fourth in the state in digs (210), while junior outside hitter Adam Wilson ranks sixth in the 5A Conference in kills (155).
With little time to adjust between matches due to a packed region schedule, Meyn wants the Colts to learn as much as they can during the remainder of the regular season, hoping to catch fire heading into the playoffs.
“We are still a young team figuring it out, but I know what we can be,” Meyn said. “I know how dangerous we can be when our offense is working and our serve receive is better. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
The Colts travel to face No. 4 Higley on Wednesday, while the Tigers get a day off before hosting No. 24 McClintock on Thursday.
