Sabrina McClain is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com

Camelback High School’s girls volleyball team dropped to 0-6 on the season as Dobson High School won all three sets, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21, on Wednesday night at Dobson High School.

Junior Bella Phipps finished with nine kills, six digs, and 29 assists to help the Mustangs win their fourth game of the season. This fourth win was significant for Dobson as they went 3-22 last season.

“The number three has been a big deal for us,” Dobson coach Jim Van Wicklin said. “They joke, but I wore black because today was a funeral for the number three. For them it was really important that we won and so for them to win in three (sets), was great.”

The match included multiple long scoring runs from the Mustangs in all three sets which benefited them overall as they played consistent offense throughout. Although the Spartans had a few scoring runs, the Mustangs dominated with 24 kills, 23 aces and 23 digs.

“I think we were definitely trusting each other a lot more than our past games,” senior Kelsi Dieu said. “That just helped us grow as one, instead of playing individually.”

The Spartans showed aggression in the first set as the score was a constant back and forth including nine ties. 

“We started off so strong,” Camelback coach Cailinanne Johnson said. “I was excited for them, and then just kind of how you as a coach can keep the momentum. You’re not out on the court, so your student athletes have to keep it up, so I was really surprised with how we started.”

The momentum for the Spartans soon faded as the Mustangs began the second set with a 6-1 run which kept them in the lead the remainder of the set.

“I tell the girls all the time, we need to play volleyball, not watch volleyball,” Johnson said. “The idea that they’re moving with the ball, going up for blocks, being more offensively aggressive.”

Van Wicklin said his team was concerned about playing without one of its best players, senior Tailynn Burcham.

“It was actually neat because she (Burcham) does so much for the team, that they actually stepped up and took over a lot,” Van Wicklin said. “It was fun to watch them. They played great volleyball.”

Camelback showed potential towards the end of the third set, going on a 7-0 run, but it was too late as Dobson only needed two more points to win the final set.

“We dug too big of a hole to get back,” junior Leah Luevanos said. “I think we could’ve tried harder.”

The Spartans have yet to win a match this season, but Johnson has seen improvement since the beginning of the season.

“We had a lot of defensive plays that we would not have had our first week playing together,” Johnson said. “Getting those clean passes up and being there when they were not there the first week was really exciting for them.”

Camelback will host Alhambra (0-6, 0-5) at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Dobson (4-2) will host Chandler (6-2, 6-1) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.