Megann Reeser is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Edge High School for AZPreps365.com.

 

Near-deafening cheers filled the Desert Edge High School gymnasium as the Scorpions' girls volleyball team faced off against the North Canyon Rattlers on Tuesday, September 17 at 6 p.m. 

With the junior varsity Scorpions cheering on the varsity team, Taylor Gardner said it helped guide them to a 3-0 victory. 

The Desert Edge High School Scorpions beat the North Canyon High School Rattlers 3-0 in an early season regional matchup. The Scorpions did not struggle much, beating them in all three sets.

Desert Edge player Taylor Gardner said the entire program cheering helped lead them to victory over North Canyon.

“Since we won the first set, it was quite easy to keep the energy high because we have the whole program on the sideline cheering for us. Giving us high energy really helps us,” Gardner said. 

Gardner said winning a regional game can help give the team an edge in the standings toward the end of the season.

“Since it is an early regional game, winning this game is big, and it puts us high for all the other regional games and we have that leverage of being placed higher,” Gardner said. 

Desert Edge won the first set 25-14, the second set 25-12 and the third set 25-17. This sweep for the Scorpions improved its season record to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in regional play. 

Desert Edge volleyball coach Tyra Tilivala said she was very happy with the improvements her team made in practice that translated into the game. 

“The girls really listened in practice," she said. "They understood that if we wanted to continue to win games, we have to learn to be quicker and stay quicker. They need to be able to cover and translate their defense into offense,”

Something else that stood out to Tilivala was the impact her freshmen had on the game. 

“Our freshmen, the three freshmen we have, were shining today. I think that had a lot to do with our sophomores and seniors on the team pushing them to be better,” Tilivala said.

Desert Edge player Ava Morin said the team’s resilience makes for a strong team chemistry.

“It shows we can come out with wins when things are tough, and it will put us in a good spot for playoffs later this season," Morin said. 

Morin also said a few things they can improve on as a team going forward. 

“I feel like our energy was great this game, our communication was good. Something we can improve on is being more aware of where we are on the court and placing the ball more efficiently.”