Surprise, Ariz. — Senior night at Faith Arena brought the energy, and the Spirit delivered a performance to match, battling past Hope International in four sets to improve to 18-4 overall and 11-2 in conference play. With the win, the Spirit also clinched the No. 2 spot in the GSAC Tournament and will host a quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday—making the night even more meaningful.

The night didn't start easy, as Hope International came out aggressive and stole the first set. Despite a competitive opening frame with multiple lead changes, OUAZ couldn't quite find its rhythm offensively, hitting just .192 as a team. But even then, you could feel the momentum starting to build.

Set two is where everything shifted. The Spirit offense came alive, hitting .371 behind a balanced attack. Jack Hubbard was dominant all night and really started to take over, finishing with 16 kills on an efficient .483 clip. Caeden Salmen was just as consistent, adding 15 kills of his own while hitting .375. OUAZ evened the match with confidence and never looked back.

In set three, the Spirit tightened their grip. OUAZ hit an impressive .438 in the set, controlling the tempo and forcing Hope International out of system. Madduxx Goron orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out 44 assists and keeping every hitter involved. Treven Clizbe made his presence felt in multiple areas with 5 kills, 2 aces, and strong net play, helping OUAZ take a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set was a battle, exactly what you'd expect on Senior Night. With the match on the line, the Spirit stayed composed. Jackson Blair stepped up with 9 kills, while Thomas Plaskett added efficient offense and a pair of service aces that helped swing momentum at key moments. OUAZ closed things out hitting .379 in the final set, sealing the win in front of a packed home crowd.

As a fan, this one felt special—not just because of the win, but because of the moment.

Senior Night was about more than volleyball. Thomas Plaskett, Xavier Connelly, Jas Singh, and Ka'imi Kealoha have all played important roles in building this program, and their impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. Whether it's stepping up in key moments, bringing energy in practice, or leading by example, these seniors have helped shape the identity of this team. Seeing them walk off the court with a win at Faith Arena made the night even more meaningful.

Up Next

The Spirit will be tested by #1 The Master's for the final game of the regular season tomorrow at 1:00 PM (MST).