Alyssa Gomez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Saint Mary's Catholic High School for AZPreps365.com 

PHOENIX-- In its last regular-season game, Saint Mary's High School couldn't prevail against Paradise Honors High school in five sets: 25-22, 15-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13.

The Knights hav been working on their mentality in an effort to climb up the rankings for the upcoming 4A playoffs, entering this game as the 14th seed. However, the changes were not reflected in their performance on this senior night. 

"We allowed ourselves to get to a place where we were complacent," said coach September Lopez. "The match should have never gone to five." 

The first set showed how tumultuous this match would be as neither team led by more than five points. The Knights started off hot by scoring nine points in the first 14 rallies. However, the Panthers immediately responded by embarking on five- and six-point runs, led by senior outside hitter Victoria Persha with four kills. The visitors prevailed, 25-22.

The Knights were resilient in the second set and used their consistency to go on four three-point runs. Sophomore outside hitter Shelbie Lemm hoped to save the special night and guided the team to a 25-15 victory in this game with four kills. 

"It was our seniors' last game," said Lemm. "I just thought I had to help them win it since it's our last seasonal game with us as a team." Sophomore outside hitter Shelbie Lemm reaching for the volleyball (Alyssa Gomez/AZpreps365)Paradise Honors refused to back down in the third set, starting off with a six-point run. However, Saint Mary's retaliated. After a missed double touch call was overturned, the Knights embarked on a six-point run of their own. The defense would get the best of the Knights as Lopez told the team to "move their feet." The Panthers took the set, 25-21.

"With our defense, we have to read what's happening and react to that," said Lopez. "So setting your feet and trying to get digs and pancakes is not successful." 

The fourth set emulated the first as neither team led by more than four points during any part of the game. The Knights used the momentum gained in the previous set to push to a 25-21 win and force a fifth-set tiebreaker. 

Senior and team captain Spirit Phipps was recently reassigned to her original position of a setter. Her leadership and exceptional adjustment to the change shined in the set with two blocks and three kills. 

"I'm just pushing, not giving up," said Phipps. 

The Knights battled in the fifth set, with Lemm obtaining four kills. However, the Panthers would clinch the match with a six-point run at the start of the set from which Saint Mary's could not recover and won, 15-13.

The Knights look to shake this one off and begin their playoff journey. 

"It's the end of the season but I feel like we can still grow together as a team," said Lemm. "We have that mentality to just start off strong and take that momentum to all three sets." 

Saint Mary's playoff journey will begin with a play-in game on November 2. Their opponent is yet to be determined.