Koby Braunstein is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Horizon Honors High School for AZPreps365.com.

Horizon Honors swept Sequoia Pathway 25-20, 25-19, and 25-19 at home on Thursday, extending its win streak to four.

The Eagles (7-4) improved the 2A conference's South region record to 5-0. They have the same regional record as the conference's fourth-ranked Chandler Prep, which is atop the region because of its 9-1 overall record.

The Eagles played in front of a packed student section cheering loudly from start to finish. Another engaged onlooker came from the Eagles bench in senior co-captain Keleanie Binns, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 14 at Veritas Prep. 

Binns was a welcome sight to her teammates and head coach Amanda Bors as added motivation.  

The Eagles started out the first set fast, getting out to a 19-13 lead as a result of stellar play from multiple players. A cross-court kill from Sequoia sophomore middle hitter Aylani Washington brought her team within three points 21-18, but the Eagles regained the momentum and never relinquished it. The one-set advantage was punctuated by an ace on set point from sophomore middle hitter Kennedy Harbertson.

Bors was impressed with her team’s serving and receiving throughout, which has been a point of emphasis in practice.

“Our serve-receive game was really good today,” Bors said. “It was probably our best serve-receive game we’ve had in a long time. That was good to see coming into an [important] upcoming week for us, and we’re hoping to build on that.” 

Similar to how first set ended, the second started with an ace, but the latter one was from junior setter Kobree Bartreau.

Horizon Honors let an 11-5 lead slip away after terrific serving and defending from Sequoia junior libero Alyssa Yon. The six-point run for the Pumas was highlighted by a sprawling dig from Yon that went directly over the net and untouched by the Eagles, resulting in a kill. Yon also recorded an ace that barely stayed in bounds to level the score at 11.  

Harbertson was a force in the second set for the Eagles that could not be denied. She recorded an ace and five kills, including a thunderous kill down the left side to give her team a commanding two-set lead.

Bors praised Harbertson for being the x-factor in that set. 

“[Kennedy] is a game changer for us,” Bors said. “That momentum really helped the girls.”

Junior co-captain and libero Addyson Gauer spoke highly of the team’s ability to remain positive in order to stave off multiple comeback attempts from the Pumas.

“What really changed the game today is that we would come back after missing a point [by responding] with a kill or a great save,” Gauer said. “A lot of our hitters stepped it up today and our serve-receive was on point.”

The third set was the most tightly contested of all. Sequoia sophomore middle blocker Aliana McClure was dominant with three kills and numerous blocks that helped the Pumas keep the score close. The quartet of junior setter Alanah Tadman, junior outside hitter Autumn Carmody, Gauer, and Harbertson powered the Eagles during their third set success. 

A crucial moment occurred at 16-15 for Horizon Honors when a miscommunication in subbing led to the Eagles having seven players on the court instead of six.

Bors was visibly upset with the miscue.

“We were not paying attention to the game,” Bors said in a joking manner after the game. “Our (middle hitter) didn’t go in when she was supposed to, and that was the second time that happened. So that’s why I was pretty upset.” 

The Pumas would win the next point to take their latest lead in a set 17-16. 

It would be the last time the Pumas were out in front. 

Tadman was on serve with the match tied at 17 when she rattled off three straight aces in a row. One of them came directly after a Pumas timeout to try and stage a late rally. 

Tadman was appreciative of the boosts of confidence her team gave her to thrive in clutch moments down the stretch.

“The team’s energy was really keeping me up and was helping me get those aces,” Tadman said. “It allowed me to forget about (past) mistakes.”

Carmody shined in the final set as well, totaling three kills to help propel the team to their fourth straight win. The Eagles have not conceded a set in this timeframe. 

The Pumas dropped to 2-4 in regional play and 7-7 overall. They travel to San Tan Charter next on Friday, Oct. 13

Horizon Honors improved to 17-12 overall and face region foe Tempe Prep on Monday, Oct. 16.