Enrique Rupert is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Westwood High School for AZPreps365.com

After back-to-back losses, the Westwood Warriors girls volleyball team outplayed the Dobson Mustangs on Thursday evening at Westwood High School.

The Warriors (2-2, 8-3) remain undefeated at home this season as they won in straight sets, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18.

They were led by Arys Palmer, who had 14 assists and two aces. 

Outside hitter Palmer had to start as setter, as regular starting setter PJ Hayes missed the game due to a school assignment. Palmer noted her performance could have been better.

“I feel like I could’ve played better on a few plays, obviously,” Palmer said. “It’s something to work on as an athlete, but I felt pretty good today.”

Palmer, had help as Hope Hutchins had 10 assists and two aces while Parley Tingey had nine kills. Rachel Porter had eight kills and two blocks and Samantha Ward and Alitza Quintana had four kills apiece. 

Warriors coach Lindsey Palmer was happy with the all-round performance of the team. 

“They did great and we got everyone in,” she said. “It was nice to see them all play hard and it was really nice to see them all play as a team, with the different substitutions and combinations we had tonight.”

After losing back-to-back games, the Warriors were in high spirits before the game. Warriors captain Porter credited the girls’ attitude to having a strong and positive mindset.

“We felt confident going into this game,” Porter said. “We knew once we kept up our energy that we would do well. We knew the two losses weren’t a reflection of us as a team, they maybe were a reflection of us that day, but we knew we could win so we just came in with a good, strong mindset.”

The Warriors started the first set strongly, building a 7-1 lead. Mustangs coach James Van Wicklin took a quick timeout and after the restart his team began accumulating points. However, the Warriors kept their pace up and soon won the set, 25-15.

The Mustangs (0-4, 4-7) were competitive throughout the game but the Warriors offense proved too much.

The Warriors kept up the momentum from the first set, getting to a 10-6 advantage to start set two. The Mustangs however, played collectively which saw them tie the score at 12-12. Five unanswered points from the Warriors forced a timeout from the Mustangs. However, they could not stop the Warriors offense as they won the set, 25-16.

The Warriors again started the third set quickly, gaining an 8-1 lead. Mustangs outside hitter Tailynn Burcham had other plans as she tried to give her team a chance to see a fourth set.

She had five kills and two aces in the set, which helped the Mustangs cut the Warriors’ lead to four. A late flurry from the Mustangs and mistakes from the Warriors made it seem like a comeback was on, but the Warriors stayed calm, winning the set, 25-18.

Wicklin, while disappointed in the final results of the match, saw great promise from his team and said that they need  to believe in themselves more. 

“Look, this team went 3-22 last year,” Wicklin said. “We’re working really hard. Sometimes I feel like they don’t believe they can win until they start seeing it and unfortunately we’re down by ten 10 points at that time. That’s why that last set was so much fun, because we had a strategy, but it took a while to get to it and once they saw it they were like we might win but unfortunately we were too far behind.”

The Warriors next play on Friday and Saturday in the “Spiketown” volleyball tournament hosted by the American Leadership Academy at the Benjamin Franklin High School starting at 2 p.m. Their next region game takes place on Oct. 11 when they host Mesa Mountain View (4-0, 5-4).

The Mustangs next play on Friday and Saturday in the Nike Tournament of Champions at the Bell Bank Park- Legacy Sports Complex starting at 11:15 a.m. Their next region game takes place on Oct. 11 when they host Mesa (2-2, 5-6).