Surprise, Ariz. — Playoff volleyball at Faith Arena did not disappoint, and as an OUAZ fan, this one had all the energy you could ask for. The Spirit rose to the occasion in the GSAC Semifinal, taking down Benedictine Mesa in straight sets (25-17, 25-18, 26-24) to punch their ticket to the championship match.

OUAZ came out sharp in set one, controlling the tempo from the start. The Spirit hit .333 in the opening frame, with Jack Hubbard leading the charge offensively. The defense and blocking set the tone early as well, holding Benedictine to just .087 hitting and never allowing them to find a rhythm.

Set two was more of the same dominance. OUAZ turned it up even more offensively, hitting an impressive .480 as a team. The ball distribution from Madduxx Goron was outstanding, finishing with 39 assists and consistently putting hitters in great positions. Jackson Blair and Treven Clizbe were key contributors, combining for efficient scoring while keeping pressure on the Redhawks. The Spirit built separation midway through the set and never looked back.

Then came set three—and this is where things got real.

Benedictine Mesa refused to go quietly, hitting .429 in the set and pushing OUAZ into a back-and-forth battle. The energy in the gym picked up as rallies got longer and every point felt bigger. The set featured 10 ties and multiple lead changes, with neither team willing to give an inch.

But when it mattered most, the Spirit delivered.

Horatio Maumasi was electric all match long, finishing with 6 kills on a ridiculous .714 hitting percentage while also adding 4 service aces that kept Benedictine off balance. Clizbe dominated at the net with 5 block assists to go along with 7 kills, making his presence felt in every phase. Hubbard continued his strong performance with 13 kills, while Blair added 8 on an efficient .438 clip.

Late in the third set, OUAZ showed exactly why they've been one of the top teams in the conference all season. With composure, execution, and a little bit of grit, the Spirit closed out the 26-24 win to complete the sweep.

OUAZ finished the match hitting an impressive .369 compared to Benedictine's .230, while also tallying 8 service aces and 10 total blocks. It was a complete performance against a tough opponent playing some of their best volleyball.

From start to finish, this felt like playoff volleyball—and the Spirit answered every challenge.

If the Spirit face The Master's in the championship on the road, they'll be walking into a tough environment—but it's worth noting that OUAZ has been undefeated at home all season, making it even more significant that this potential matchup would be away from Faith Arena.

There is still another scenario in play. If Arizona Christian knocks off The Master's, the Spirit would earn the chance to host the GSAC Championship match themselves—bringing the action back home where OUAZ has been perfect all year.

Either way, OUAZ is just one win away from a GSAC title, and this group has proven they're ready for the moment no matter where it's played.