By Madeline Witt

The Marcos de Niza Padres snapped their two match losing streak, defeating the Tempe High Buffaloes 25-15, 25-12, 25-8 Tuesday night.

Coming off of a disappointing three-game loss on Monday, Marcos de Niza coach Elizabeth Snow tried a different look, using some younger players and her starters in different positions. Snow’s strategy was effective as Marcos de Niza seemed more focused from the start.

The match began with the Padres and Buffaloes appearing evenly matched, but the Padre hitters then stepped up to help their team pull away. Senior Taylor Bonkoski led the hit parade along with juniors Alyssa Motola and Justice Craig and sophomore Elyse Olson.

Marcos de Niza kept the momentum throughout the set with solid performances at the net, keeping the ball in play.

Marcos de Niza kept rolling during the start of the second set, grabbing a 5-1 advantage, behind the serving of junior Sophia Ashmead. Tempe tried its best to stay in the match, but the technical skills of Marcos de Niza didn’t allow it to lose the lead.

Both teams suffered from communication errors midway through the second set, but the Padres recovered quickly, putting together a few solid combinations to pull ahead for good in the second set.

“Our serve receives were pretty inconsistent,” Tempe High coach Rodrigo Palacios said. “We had some communication breakdown, and we’re still trying some different combinations.”

The combinations Marcos de Niza used continued to work in the final set, when sophomore Katelyn Denham collected three aces to help Marcos de Niza go up 8-1.

A Palacios timeout helped Tempe regain possession, and Tempe’s play at the net improved, but Marcos de Niza’s strong return game kept it in the lead. The Buffaloes countered with strategic line changes and increased intensity. 

A Tempe block late in the game broke up another three-point run by Ashmead, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Padres, who closed the match with a spike by senior Myia Vega. 

“They came together this game,” said Snow about her team. “They trusted each other. They were prepared. They knew that someone would be there to back them up if they couldn’t get there to get the pass. So it was really about communication, teamwork and executing tonight.”

The Padres will be back in action Thursday at St. Mary’s High.

Witt is a sports journalism student at Arizona State.