By Brittany Bowyer
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SCOTTSDALE — Notre Dame Prep Girls Volleyball, who currently sits at the top of the 5A rankings, cruised to a 3-0 victory over Kellis on Thursday in dominating fashion. It was a team effort, as multiple girls stepped up to make the plays needed to win with such force.

“I feel like we all did super well,” Sophomore Charlotte Higby said. “I feel like we came out with a ton of energy, and we had a huge game... Our setters did amazing jobs in the sets. We were trying to run new things, which I think was really good. We ran the two, and we ran some slides... Then our serving was really good, too.”

The victory was extra special for the Saints, who got to do it in front of a number of teachers they recognized at the game.

“So this was our firsttime kind of doing that, a more specific ceremony,” Sandoval said. “We have themes for every single game and different things that we want to do, and it just kind of popped up of like, a teacher appreciation. As soon as we kind of thought of the idea, the girls were like, ‘I know exactly what teacher I want,’and they were super excited to celebrate them. I thought it was great. I know our teachers really appreciated it. They have really great relationships with their teachers so it was just important for them to come see not just them in the classroom but to see what they could do on the court.”

Each player invited a teacher out to the game and provided them with a specialized mini volleyball. After introducing all the teachers and taking pictures with them, the game quickly got underway.

Set one got off to a slow start for the Saints, who quickly found themselves trailing 3-1. NDP was able to turn it on pretty quickly, though, coming back to tie things at five before continuing to go on a run. The Saints would eventually work their way out to a 12-6 lead and force Kellis to call a timeout. NDP continued to build on their lead, pushing things to 22-8 following a trio of aces from sophomore Farrah Larrabee. The set point would come shortly after on an ace from junior Kenzie Schwab, as NDP won it 25-9.

In set two, things got off to a close start with things tied at four early on. A kill from senior Elizabeth Hackleman, which she followed up with an ace, would set the tone for the rest of the set as the Saints continued working on the lead. After another ace from Hackleman pushed the lead to 9-4, Kellis called another timeout in an effort to regroup.

“[Hackleman], no. 10, she’s one of our senior captains,” Sandoval said. “She’s always a steady for us.”

However, it wouldn’t be enough to stop the momentum of the Saints, who were able to keep working their way out to 15-5 lead. NDP started to struggle with some mental errors and gave up a few points late in the set, but it wouldn’t be enough to stop them from taking it 25-12 and putting them on top 2-0.

Set three was all NDP to start, as they worked their way out to a 7-1 lead. Higby, who had a strong game all-around, really dominated in the third set to help the Saints cruise to a 25-7 victory and pick up a 3-0 win.

“Tonight, one of our underclassmen, no. 20, she really shined,” Sandoval said about Higby. “Attacking was really good, in the front row and the back row. We’re asking her to try new things, and just have different range in their attacks, and really kinda took that information and she played outstanding. Attacking really well, putting a few balls down, so I’m really proud of her for that.”

Despite the misques in set two, it was an overall strong night defensively for the Saints.

“Defense is defintely something that we emphasize and work really hard on,” Higby said. “I feel like our liberos really stepped up today and pretty much took all the seams. Our serve receive, we really talked about our seams and who was getting each ball.”

The Saints have some high-level matches left this season and are using each day to continue getting better and preparing for what’s ahead. Their next match is against no. 3 Chaparral, who will certainly give them a run for their money. In their last meeting earlier this year, Notre Dame Prep got the best of the Firebirds 3-1.

“We have Chap coming up next week, so we’ve been really preparing for that. We really wanted to use this game to prepare us for that game.”

“We have a few tough matches coming up, so whatever we can do to boost confidence for them to help translate into those big matches is really big for us,” Sandoval said.

They also still have to face no. 4 Horizon, who they lost to earlier in the season.

Sandoval said at this point in the season, she feels “very good” about where her team is at.

“They’re all really on the same page,” Sandoval said. “Obviously a State Championship is always our goal, but right now it’s kind of just taking things one day at a time. Also, taking advantage of our practice time. It’s hard when you get to this point in the season. We’re tired, the classroom’s a lot, and so it’s kinda making sure that we’re locking back in, regrouping, revisiting our goals, and again, keeping everyone locked in for the remainder of the season.”

Sandoval noted that they believe this is a special group motivated to remain at the top.

“This group, they’re all my best friends,” Higby said. “I look forward to practice every day, I look forward to games, and we all celebrate each other so much. We all have a common goal in mind, to win that state championship, and I think our determination and willingness to get everything is just really, really special.”

“We see really big things for them,” Sandoval said about the group.

Brittany Bowyer is a Report for America corps member, covering sports for Independent Newsmedia in Arizona. Report for America places talented journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and regions.