At the time of year when the Monsters need to play their best volleyball, they turned in a great performance at home Friday night.

Eastern Arizona College added another piece of hardware to its trophy case by winning the Region I championship for the second year in a row after a 3-0 victory over Yavapai.

In home games earlier in the season, the Monsters didn’t play to their potential. They were ready to dominate Friday.

The Monsters won their second straight Region I title Friday night with a 3-0 victory over Yavapai in Thatcher. The Monsters include, front from left, Maranda Dietce, Salia Olomua, Kalia Yasak, Ku’ulei Keliikuli-Peters, Stephanie Johnson, Jari Seumalo, Mamaitaloa Fiaseu and Dreanne Shaw; back, coach Shaka Orr, head coach Shari Kay, coach Cheyenne Alva, Demaree Brown, Sian Burdick, Whitney Hatch, Ami Baldwin, Marci King, Lanae Reynolds and coach Janeil Udall. Photo by Brian Wright

“We’ve been working really hard in practice, and they were ready for it mentally,” EAC coach Shari Kay said.

“The sophomores really stepped it up tonight.”

A back-and-forth battle in the first set ended with a late charge by Eastern for a 25-21 win.

Only a few shaky moments presented themselves in the next two sets. The Monsters were firmly in control as they closed out the match 25-14 and 25-16.

Booming kills by Dreanne Shaw and Ami Baldwin fired up an already excited home crowd at Guitteau Gymnasium.

With the victory, EAC advances to the District A championship game. However, the Monsters don’t know who or where they will play yet.

Eastern, No. 9 in the nation, will play one of three teams from Region 18 — No. 1 North Idaho College, No. 4 Salt Lake Community College or No. 6 College of Southern Idaho.

If EAC wins the District A championship, it will go on to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Kay is confident the Monsters can make a deep run at nationals, but she and her players know that getting there will be tough.

“Any of those three teams (at district) are way (better) than a lot of teams that are at the national tournament,” Kay said.

All three possible opponents really crush the ball, but Kay said the Monsters enjoy playing teams that hit well.

And if the Monsters happen to play Salt Lake, they head in knowing they can win. Eastern beat Salt Lake 3-2 on Sept. 11 in Scottsdale.

EAC hasn’t played in the national tournament since 1992. Just getting there would be a big step for the program, and it would also do a lot for recruiting next season.