Keith Hall is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Saint Mary’s High School for AZPreps365.com

Saint Mary’s dropped its fourth consecutive match with a tough five-set loss to Saguaro in their final regular season home match on Thursday, Oct. 27. 

The Knights (9-8) titled the match Fan Appreciation Night, as all fans were granted free admission. They also held their Senior Night pregame ceremony to honor their players Jessica Rayner, Sophia Flores, and Zoe Rideau.

During this ceremony, Sophia Flores reflected on her time with the Knights by thanking her teammates for “making her laugh when she needed it.” Junior Shelbie Lemm called Rideau the team's “biggest motivator”. 

As the match began, the 4A Desert Sky region's second-place Sabercats looked determined to spoil the Knights' senior home finale.

“Senior Night games are always intense," spectator Alice Montgomery said. "One team is looking to win the fun night and another team wants to end the fun.”

It was a back-and-forth battle following the opening serve, and the score was tied 11-11 nearly midway through. Costly mistakes by the Sabercats caused the Knights to develop a small lead, but the Knights edged them, 25-22. 

The Sabercats started off strong in the second set. Unfazed by the first set loss, they won 25-18 to even the match. 

In the third set, the game plan stayed consistent for both sides as the score remained tight. Lemm had multiple kills to lead the team, and the Knights went ahead 2-1 on its 25-19 finish.

The Sabercats built an early 6-1 lead in the fourth, which prompted a timeout from head Knights coach September Lopez. The Sabercats kept the momentum and won 25-20 to force the decisive fifth set, in which they handily won,15-7.

The Knights will compete as the 20th seed at No. 13 AZ College Prep on Nov. 1 in the 4A conference play-in tournament at 6 p.m.