For the third season in a row, the Fountain Hills High School beach volleyball team earned a spot in the state championship match. Unfortunately, a third state title was not in the cards for the Lady Falcons.

Fountain Hills played in the semi-finals on April 30 against Arizona College Prep. The Falcons were able to pull off another close playoff win, besting their opponents 3-2 to move on to the championship match.

Two days later, on May 2, The Lady Falcons faced off against Mesquite High School for the final showdown of the season. Fountain Hills was unable to pull off another close victory, falling to Mesquite 3-2.

The season might be over for beach volleyball but one last tournament is happening this week between the top pairs in Division II.

The Falcons’ ones pair, Jelina Lynch and Grace Abrams, are seeded fourth in the pairs tournament and played in the first round and quarterfinals on Monday, May 6.

If Lynch and Abrams are victorious on Monday, then they will play Thursday, May 9, in the semifinals and potentially the finals at Chandler High School starting at 5 p.m.

AZ College Prep

Just as they did in their previous playoff match against Coconino, FHHS was able to pull off a victory when the season was on the line.

“As opposed to the Coconino match where we went down 2-0 initially, this one we went up 2-0,” head coach Pete McGloin said. “Our threes and fours pairs both won; the fours won in a thrilling three-set battle that they always seem to be in. So we were in a good position, but we still knew it was going to be a struggle to beat another really good team.”

Arizona College Prep went on to win the next two games in the twos and five spots, tying the match 2-2. A third trip to the championship was now riding on a victory from the ones pair.

“Jelina and Grace have grown so much as a team; they had taken over that ones spot for us by the fifth week of the season and, going into the match, they were yet to lose a set,” McGloin said. “It was an incredible game.”

Lynch and Abrams won the first set 21-18, lost the second set 24-22 and then pulled off a third set victory, 16-14.

“Just looking back after our battles with Coconino and Arizona College Prep, I mean, it was amazing that we were even in the championship,” McGloin said. “We had some incredible, incredible wins. It is just as exciting as beach volleyball gets.”

Championship

Going into the championship match, McGloin and his team had a lot of confidence and belief that they would be able to take down Mesquite.

Unfortunately, the Lady Falcons lost the first two sets at the fives and fours spot.

“It was so close,” McGloin said. “Again, it was one of those instances where, if the ball had bounced a little differently at one play or another, we would have won it.”

Next up, the Falcons’ threes pair was able to claim victory in three sets but the twos pair fell to their Mesquite opponents, giving Mesquite the championship.

Despite losing the championship, FHHS’ ones pair came ready to play.

“The ones just came out and dominated and I think there was a little bit of them wanting to take their frustration out over the loss, but I think they also wanted to prove themselves,” McGloin said. “It was a heartbreaking night overall, but it was nice to have those two wins at threes and ones to give us something to be positive about and cheer about and reflect back on what has been a very, very successful season.”