The Flagstaff Eagles couldn't have picked a worse time to fall behind to a team for the first time this season.

The No. 1 Division II Eagles trailed No. 6 Arcadia of Phoenix 2-0 in the state championship match Tuesday.

But they mounted an epic comeback by winning three straight games for a 3-2 (23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 15-10) state championship win.

Senior setter Bree Davis said Flagstaff has always been a group that could fight back from anything, adding the squad showed it Saturday in the semifinals at Mesquite High School in Gilbert.

"We've always been the comeback kids and there's a reason we've been called that. Any time we're down a point or a game, we come back and fight harder," Davis said.

Added Davis: "When other teams start falling apart, we pull together. We're a team in every sense of the word and learning how to fight is something that comes from Flagstaff; we don't like to lose. We showed everybody (Tuesday) that we are not a losing team."

PERFECT 21-0

The Eagles finished the season a perfect 21-0, with Tuesday's game losses the only two of the entire season, not including tournaments. Tournament included, the Eagles finish 2012 with a 42-0-1 record.

Davis led an Eagles charge that started in the third game as Flagstaff fought to find the momentum that was lacking in the first two games.

Head coach Beth Haglin said the team was playing tight and was not like itself. She said the Eagles needed to take control, and they did.

"I told them we weren't out of things until we said we were out," Haglin said. "I wasn't ready for it to be over, so we talked about defense and playing stiff without moving, like we normally do, so we went out and played our game like we had nothing to lose."

Flagstaff won a pair of 25-23 games by battling on defense to thwart a vicious Arcadia attack, and junior libero Hailey Leffel teamed up with her sister, freshman outside hitter Courtney Leffel, to get Flagstaff's pass going.

Haglin said the sisters did an outstanding job guarding the Eagles' back line, but added it took a total team effort to get the win.

"I've been asked in tournaments to pick an MVP and I can't," Haglin said. "Hailey Leffel is amazing on serve-receive and on defense, but once she passes it someone else has to set it then someone else has to hit it."

MOMENTUM CHANGER

Courtney Leffel led Flagstaff with 21 digs while Hailey Leffel added 19 and senior outside hitter Randi Powers had 18.

Once the defense found its spots and started getting the ball to Davis, she set up the Eagle hitters for big-time kills.

Davis said the third game was not only a momentum change in the Eagles' favor, but also the point of the match when Flagstaff found itself.

"As soon as we won the third game, we realized we could do it. We know how to fight and we know how to win," Davis said. "We just had to calm down and let ourselves play the game, and once we did that's when the momentum changed."

Courtney Leffel, who had 12 kills to tie with Powers for the team high, said the team's will to win kicked in once the tide of momentum rolled in Flagstaff's favor.

"Coach told us to play with our hearts and that she knew we could do it," the freshman said.

The play at the net also picked up for the Eagles, who struggled against a bigger Arcadia lineup, and senior middle blocker Izzy Gosar said it was the team's unity that brought the Eagles together at the right moment, just like it has all season.

"We've been playing together for so long we just sort of knew," Gosar said. "We knew we had to get it done and finally found the effort that we needed."

She added that though she was still numb from winning, she was excited to hoist the championship trophy.

"It was so amazing and I wouldn't have wanted to win it any other way. Yes, we did have to go to extra games, but it was just extra time for me playing with girls I love," she said. "I've been wanting it for so long, it felt so great to actually have it in my hands and share that with all the other girls."

LAST MATCH IS BITTERSWEET

Davis, who had 38 assists and a team-high eight blocks, said playing in her last match was bittersweet.

"This was my last year playing with my best friends and we've been thinking about winning this championship since my freshman year," Davis said. "I can't believe it's over."

For Courtney Leffel, Tuesday's state championship excitement may just be the beginning.

"It's crazy exciting and I don't even know what to say I'm so excited," she said. "I just won the state championship my freshman year with all these amazing girls and it was so much fun."

With the championship season so recently behind her, Haglin said it wasn't easy pulling together a group of girls who all craved the spotlight, but said it was a fun process that provided unquestionable results.

"I always wondered what I would do when we ever won, and words can't really even express (the feeling)," Haglin said. "Our heavenly Father pulled this team together this season, and that's what it really is."

Haglin added that the enormous Flagstaff following that crowded the bleachers was a big boost every time the Eagles needed one.

"Having our crowd was amazing and I'm so grateful for them coming," Haglin said. "Between us coming together and the noise of our crowd, it just really knocked the wind out of Arcadia's sails."

Bill Harris can be reached at bharris@azdailysun.com or 556-2251.