Durell Thomas Jr. is a student journalist at Arizona State University assigned to cover Marcos De Niza High School for AZPreps365.com

Tempe edged its crosstown rival Marcos De Niza 3-2 on Wednesday. 

The Buffaloes (4-5) faced off against the winless Padres (0-11).

The odds seemed stacked against the Padres, but they came out with an energy and spirit that belied their record.

"I had a game plan coming into the game, but when injuries popped up from last night's game, it threw me off," Marcos De Niza head coach Fernando Vital said.

However, the Padres didn't let adversity define their performance. Coach Vital praised his young team's determination.

"They could've given up a long time ago, but the girls stepped up in needed positions."

Freshman Naelani Joe gave the Padres an explosive start, scoring five consecutive serves in the first set. Junior McKenna Baker showcased her resilience with last-minute saves that kept the Padres in the game.

In the third set, the Padres came alive, displaying a level of intensity that caught everyone's attention. They raced to a 5-0 lead and played with a fire that had been missing in the earlier sets. Sophomore Tammie Wagner dominated as a middle blocker, making it a fiercely competitive set. The intensity reached its peak when both teams were tied at 25-25, but the Padres managed to pull ahead, winning the set 26-24.

Then the Padres tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth set, setting the stage for a thrilling fifth. However, in the end, it was Tempe who secured the victory with a final score of 3-2.

"It's always great to play our sister schools, and we love playing Marcos," Tempe head coach Doug Kiefer said. "We've had to grind out a lot of matches last year and this year."

The motivation was clear for Tempe senior Dominique Hernandez, who had a standout performance. 

"We want to fight for a win because we want to make it to the playoffs this year," Hernandez said.