Rishi Oza is a student journalist at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University assigned to cover Coronado High School for AZPreps365.com. 

SCOTTSDALE-- The Coronado Dons came into last night’s game looking to break a six-game losing streak, but the Apache Junction Prospectors had a different plan. The Prospectors won on the road in straight sets (25-13, 25-19, 25-13) to break their own three-game losing streak and climb back above .500 for the season. 

The gym crackled with energy as both teams appreciated the importance of this match. Dons coach Shannon McClure danced on the bench and preached energy in her timeouts, while the JV team for Apache Junction unleashed bleacher-shaking chants after each point.

That energy translated onto the court for both squads in the opening set, but the Prospectors used a couple of big runs to take a big lead at 17-8. Both teams created long rallies, but the Prospectors executed their plays to win those points and ultimately the set, 25-13. 

The second set was by far the most competitive. The Dons trailed late by only three points, 20-17. “I think we kinda hit a stride,” McClure said. “We’ve really been working hard on communicating and staying positive… if we could just sustain that we would’ve been a lot more competitive.” 

That second set competitiveness was pioneered by the play of Dons junior Cyalista Cotton and senior Gabby Williams. They both were extremely active in setting their teammates up for easy spikes and hits. They both also dominated their serves, hitting ace after ace. “When anybody can get up and swing hard, it lifts the team up,” McClure answered when asked about their impact on the court. “Cotton’s really good at hitting and setting and Gabby can really swing hard, she can really hit the ball.” 

Apache Junction served the ball extremely well, something McClure said her team struggles against. The Prospectors had five aces in the first set alone, and the Dons could not find an answer the entire match. 

Even in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, the Dons strive to remain positive. “This game we didn’t have as many passing errors as we had in the past,” said McClure. “I always treat volleyball like this is our family like this is our safe place. We can come out and be who we want to be here and shut the outside world out. So I’m really trying to have them focus on being the teammates they want to have out on the court and set their own examples.”  

Coronado will have to wait to break their losing streak until next week when they play the Poston Butte Broncos at home on Friday, October 5th. 

Apache Junction looks to keep their winning ways going when they face off against the Vista Grande Spartans on October 12th.