(GILBERT, Ariz.) No. 6 Gilbert Christian defeated No. 11 Cicero Prep 3-1 (27-25, 25-17, 18-25, 25-14) in the first round of the 2025 AIA Boys Volleyball 3A State Championship Tournament behind a phenomenal 12-kill, 17-dig effort from sophomore Reed Mills. With the win, the Knights advance to the round of eight, where they will face a familiar foe in third-seeded Seton Catholic. 
 
The opening set of the match went down to the wire, with the Knights ultimately persevering 27-25 to put the pressure on the Centurions.  The momentum carried over into the second, seeing the GCHS offense erupt courtesy of four putdowns from Mills, three from junior Malachi Myers, and two apiece from senior Luke Myers, and junior Bryce Kincaid. 
 
Cicero Prep cranked up the intensity in the third, putting up a fight to claim what would be its lone victory of the evening. The fourth, however, was a rout (21-14), as Gilbert Christian made it clear that it would be the team to advance.
 
Senior Colin Berry, senior Talon Heafey and M. Myers combined for 35 digs in the contest. 
 
Kincaid's 34 assists led all players. He also managed eight digs, an ace and a pair of blocks in the affair. 
 
M. Myers matched Mills' offensive total with 12 kills against the Centurions. Next in line was L. Myers, who put away eight for the Knights. 
 
Gilbert Christian's block was bolstered by junior Luke Swingle, who logged a match-high four stuffs on the front line. His two aces were also tops for the Knights' lineup.
 
Boys volleyball heads to Seton Catholic on Tuesday, May 13th for its next challenge. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm. The Knights beat the third-ranked Sentinels 3-0 in the second game of the year, back on March 7th, 2025.