Phoenix Sunnyslope's volleyball girls faced Gilbert Campo Verde for the second time this season.

This time, it was at home in the first round of the playoffs. It was an emotional match, played well on both sides, but Sunnyslope closed the intense match in five sets, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15 and 15-13.

Sunnyslope, the No.3 seed, struggled in first two sets against the No. 14 seed. 

“We were having a hard time getting stops at the net," Sunnyslope coach Amber LeTarte said. "They were able to hit around the block and we were having a hard time defending that.” 

Sunnyslope fell behind by seven points in the last set but kept fighting.

“It’s just picking up the other team's tendencies,” LeTarte said.

“We were out of system,” assistant coach Sarah Johnson said. “But finally I felt like we were more active in the front row.”

Sophomore Jazmyn Wheeler and junior Kayla Matthews led the team with 17 kills each, while outside hitter junior Tyasia McGruder had 14.

Sophomore setter Macy Wilke had a match-high 34 assist.

“We’re young and the girls not being in this situation before did not know how to deal with it,” Campo Verde Coach Vee Hiapo said.

Despite the loss, Campo Verde (25-15 overall) will only lose two seniors.

“This is a really young group," Hiapo said. "They have a lot of years to go.”

Sunnyslope will face Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep Saturday in the quarterfinals.