Kaneyl Carpenter is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde High School for AZPreps365.com

GILBERT, Ariz. – The Campo Verde volleyball team lost 3-1 in a tough matchup against the Higley Knights on Wednesday.   

The Coyotes had not won a set against the Knights since the 2020 volleyball season, making their lone winning set a major accomplishment for the team. 

Starting out the first set slow, the Coyotes seemed timid. Within the first few plays of the game, the score was 6-1. From there, it was back-and-forth. Eventually they started kicking it into gear and went on a short 5-0 run. 

“We started out very slow, next time we really have to start out strong,” said Morgan Meyer, a freshman opposite hitter for the Coyotes. “I feel like at the beginning we were a little scared.” 

The Knights won the first set 25-19.

Right off the bat, the second set started intensely. Campo was fired up, but so was Higley. Each team scored back-to-back. During this set, there weren't any runs more than three points long. Just a strong banter of a matchup. 

“After the first set we realized we needed a change so we knew we needed to recover,” said Gillian Bachali, a senior outside hitter for the Coyotes. “We started bringing the fight back in during the second set.”

At the end of the second set, the Coyotes had a total of nine kills and five aces. 

“After that first set we were kind of like, ‘Oh crap,’ but then the second set was back-and-forth a bit so we knew we could come back, and then by the third set we started gaining more momentum.” said Alayna Kitch, a sophomore setter for the Coyotes. 

The Knights eventually took the lead and won the set 28-26.

The Knights scored the first point but then the Coyotes took over and went on a 5-0 run. The Knights broke up the Coyotes' run, scoring a point off of a kill, but then the ball was back in the Coyotes' possession and soon the score was 8-2.

From there it was back-and-forth. The Coyotes took the set 25-16. 

“The set that we took was just way more relaxed and that’s something we need to focus on when we get back to practice,” Bachali said. “Figuring out how to be relaxed and regrouped while also maintaining maturity.”

The fourth set was a battle throughout but during the last few points is when the intensity of the game started to kick in. Midway through the fourth set, Higley went on a 4-0 run, making the score 20-18. From there on, each team would go on a short run of three. Eventually the Knights took the set 25-22 to win the match.

The Coyotes had a total of 15 aces and Bachali had five of those. 

The Coyotes play their next game at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11th at Mountain Pointe.