Ari Wohl is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Christian for AZPreprs365.com 

Phoenix Christian rallied to win at Highland Prep in five sets (25-21, 14-25, 17-25, 25-23, 16-14) to remain undefeated on Monday.

The Cougars (6-0) struggled at first and fell behind 5-4 in the opening set. They won the next seven straight points, thanks to a pair of aces by Kathryn Munos as well as kills by Aurora Grimwade and Brooklynne Blake. After that short run, the Cougars never gave up the lead, despite a late comeback attempt by the Honey Badgers.

Highland Prep (3-8) started the second set strong, but Phoenix Christian responded immediately to tie the set at seven. The Honey Badgers then won the following six points to take a commanding lead. Errors by the Cougars allowed the Honey Badgers to tie the match at one all.

Both teams went back and forth in a pivotal third set, leading to a 15-15 tie. The Honey Badgers finished the set on a 7-2 run to go up two sets to one, with a chance to hand the Cougars their first regional loss of the season.

In a must-win situation, the Cougars found themselves down 7-2 early. An ace by Grimwade put Phoenix Christian two points behind. Later in the set, up 18-16, Phoenix Christian head coach Anissa Edouard called timeout and delivered her message in the huddle.

“I really just told them to believe in themselves and to keep fighting and that’s the fight that I continue to see all season from them,” Edouard said.

Neither team won two consecutive points until the Cougars secured the set winning point.

With the crowd making noise on every point, Phoenix Christian continued its momentum and took an early 6-3 lead in the fifth set, thanks to back-to-back aces by Grimwade. A few points later, consecutive aces by Blake put the Cougars ahead 9-4. The Honey Badgers stormed back to tie the game at 14 in the best of 15 set. The Cougars won the following two points and completed their comeback victory.

Senior outside hitter Aurora Grimwade, one of Phoenix Christian’s star players and leaders, showed what it takes to be a leader, even while struggling.

“The second and third set, I was kind of frustrated with myself because I kept missing my serves,” Grimwade said. “I figured out that being a captain means that you have to be a team player too, even when you're frustrated with yourself.”

The Cougars' senior setter Nancy Felix discussed her role as a setter and how she relies on her teammates.

“As a setter, I tell my team to just get one pass up, so I can be able to set to my outsides or my middles,” Felix said. “I couldn’t have done it without my team today.”

The relationship between Grimwade and Felix stemmed from their long friendship and it translates to their actions on the court. Their resilient performance over the Honey Badgers helped the Cougars retain first place in the 2A Central region.

Phoenix Christian’s next matchup is a road game against the Phoenix Country Day Eagles (7-1) at 5 p.m. on September 28.