Corona volleyball
The no.11 ranked Aztecs avenged their loss to the no.12 ranked Desert Vista Thunder earlier in the season with a sweep of their own on senior night. Corona had a gym full of energized fans as they honored 12 seniors before taking the court. The Aztecs tall front row, led by Jon Seddon, Zachary Jones and Ollie Hinder, made every big block while the defense, led by Luke Vlcek, created scrappy plays to easily overpower and overwhelm Desert Vista. Four basketball players have joined the volleyball squad, bring a new dynamic for coach Geoff Horewitch. Bo Dolinsek stands at 6-foot-7- inches, Ollie Hinder at 6-foot-10-inches, Zachary Jones at 6-foot-7-inches and Andrej Mesihovic at 6-foot-5-inches. However, where the team lacks in experience, they make up for in height and athleticism, and the Aztecs have managed to navigate the tough 6A division and secure a playoff spot. Now, 16-15 and clinching a playoff spot, the No.10 seeded Aztecs hill host No.23 Maryville on May 2.
Corona softball
The (13-15) lady Aztecs secured their play-in playoff win over the (9-14) Gilbert Tigers, 11-6, on their home field. Corona, who had lost its previous three matches against Gilbert earlier this season, were able to strike its first win over the Tigers when it mattered the most. The Aztecs surrendered two runs to the Tigers in the top of the first, but answered right back with five runs of their own in the bottom frame, jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Just as any playoff game goes, it was a rollercoaster of emotion and energy as the two evenly-matched teams traded leads. After a four-run third inning, the Tigers were able to take a 6-5 lead, but that was short lived as Corona’s bullpen stepped up and shut down the Gilbert offense for the remainder of the game. Corona brought two home in the fourth inning, then four runs in the sixth for good measure, securing its playoff spot. The No.14 seeded Aztecs kept their title dreams alive as they upset the No.3 seeded Sunnyslope Vikings, 7-2, in Glendale. Corona will now face the No.6 seeded Red Mountain Mountain Lions in the second round. The Aztecs have a 1-1 record against Red Mountain this season and will look to break the tie and advance on May 3.
