Brawley outlasts Gila Ridge in five-set thriller
SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - In a matchup that had a change of scenery before it even began, the Brawley Wildcats and Gila Ridge Hawks clashed Tuesday night at Somerton Gymnasium after flooding forced the Hawks out of their home court.
Brawley wasted no time setting the tone in the opening set. Team captain Demi Vogel delivered a powerful spike through the Hawks' defense, sparking a quick 4–0 lead. Moments later, Luca Ruben added an ace to push the advantage to 6–0 as the Wildcats looked firmly in control.
The Hawks, however, refused to go quietly. Senior setter Ryan Gray steadied Gila Ridge's offense, connecting with Addison Wright for a clean kill to put the Hawks on the board. Gray then found Ashley Langford, who buried another kill to chip away at the deficit.
Despite the rally, Gila Ridge dropped the first set, but the Hawks fought back in the middle frames, taking both the second and fourth sets to push the match to a decisive fifth.
In the end, it was Brawley who had the final word. The Wildcats outlasted Gila Ridge 25-22 in the final set, sealing a hard-fought 3-2 victory in front of a spirited Somerton crowd.
It was a showcase of resilience and grit on both sides, as two strong volleyball programs battled until the very last point.
