Alex Suarez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Corona del Sol for AZPreps365.com 

The Corona del Sol Aztecs, seventh ranked team in Division I are rolling into State behind a seven match winning streak. But the bond shared between these girls is an unbreakable one. 

Up until last season, the Aztecs were region champions three years in a row. Their goal this year was to win the region again and their efforts were successful with a match win on Monday against Queen Creek to end the season. 

Aztecs head coach Katie Felicetti spoke about the importance of their preseason matches and how it helped the team grow throughout the rest of the season. 

“We played in a tournament early on in the season and we finished second behind Chaparral, coming down to the last match we lost by two points,” Felicetti said. “We faced three tough competitors in a row and I think we just wanted it, we collectively worked hard and wanted to get back and win region.”

The Aztecs will have junior Merilyn Li and junior Allie Pequeno participating in the singles bracket starting on Friday Oct. 21. While seniors Megan Kirchhardt and Kayla McDonald will be participating in the doubles bracket of the state tournament. The Aztecs will then host No. 10 ranked Pinnacle at home on Monday Oct. 25 in the Division I Team Championship. 

Head coach Katie Felicetti was complimentary towards the seniors on the team and what they mean to the program. 

"They've been great leaders, being captains, running drills with the girls, very vocal and showing great leadership," Felicetti said. 

These girls have built a solid team and have a strong camaraderie to go along with it. With 23 girls on the team this year, the most taken by Felicetti, the team has grown as a whole and is having fun on and off the court. 

"Even though sometimes it was a challenge, we all discussed we'd rather carry 23 and really be a team collective unit," Felicetti said. 

Kayla McDonald spoke about the strong relationships her and the other girls have on and off the court. 

"I think a big part of that is just making practices fun, we all laugh and joke around a lot," McDonald said. "We do a good amount of unofficial team bonding. A big group of us all went to Homecoming together. We're all just friends on and off the court."

McDonald believes that the team was able to rally on last year's season and bring what they've learned since then and apply that into this season and help them achieve their goals of winning the region once again. 

“It was awesome — last year was such a building year, it shows that our work last year has paid off,” McDonald said. “We only had 11 girls last year and this year we had 23, it’s really nice to show that our hard work paid off.”

Kirchhardt is excited about the opportunity to end her season participating in the State Doubles Championship alongside her friend and teammate in McDonald as well as with the team starting on Oct. 25. 

"Us being seniors, it's a really big deal. It means a lot to me. It's actually cool that this year we get to have state, it means a lot," Kirchhardt said. 

For Kirchhardt and McDonald, the two have been teammates for a long time now and have continued to grow that bond between themselves and the team. 

“We have played basketball with each other since sixth grade, we have always played together and we’re always hanging out with everyone else outside of school,” Kirchhardt said. 

Kirchhardt hopes the team can take away and learn from all the things the team has learned as a group and carry that into future success. 

"You do still have to work hard and be competitive, the conditioning and other stuff coach makes us do is all worth it in the end," said Kirchhardt. 

Pequeno has had her love for the sport grow from the relationships built with this badminton team. 

"With badminton everyone really likes each other," Pequeno said. "It's such a relaxed and friendly environment that brings us in to play more and make more friendships and have a great time playing overall." 

The seniors have played an important role in the eyes of Pequeno and she looks forward to building on that and leaving that same impression for others. 

“I’ve always looked up to the seniors, they’ve been amazing role models and players to play against and I’m obviously sad to see them leave after the school year because they're my close friends,” Pequeno said. “I want to make sure I can be the senior next year that they were to me, creating a kind environment where everyone spends time together.” 

The girls have built a great camaraderie this season on and off the court and have used that bond and carried it onto the court each and everyday. They will all remember this team and cherish these moments for years to come.