Richie Meno is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Dysart High School for AZPrep365.com 

EL MIRAGE - Dysart outlasted Tempe in a five set thriller Monday night, grinding out a 3–2 victory after the Demons’ early dominance nearly slipped away.

The Demons came out firing in the first two sets, controlling the pace with sharp passing, steady serves and relentless hustle. Dysart’s communication stood out early, as senior Melia Jugans said the team’s energy and connection were the difference. 

“I definitely think we talked more in the first two sets,” Jugans said. “Our communication was absolutely great. We were calling each other’s names and that really brought us to those wins.”

But the momentum shifted immediately in the third set when Tempe responded with big swings and scrappy defense that forced Dysart out of rhythm. The Demons struggled with self-errors and a lack of communication, and senior Sarah Martinez admitted the team got stuck in its own head. 

“I think everything was in our heads, and that’s what affected us,” Martinez said.

Coach McKayla Cantrell said the breakdown stemmed from lineup changes and a drop in passing fundamentals. 

“Some of that loss of momentum came from switching up some players,” Cantrell said. “When you move things around, there just seems to be a moment where you’re like, this is not working. But we really focused on what we did right in those first two sets, and that was our passing.”

Dysart looked sharper in the fourth set but could not pull away, as Tempe matched every point with strong defense and crisp offense. Cantrell leaned on her key players to steady the court, including setters and hitters who sparked longer rallies. “Having key pillars on the court really made the difference in the momentum,” Cantrell said. “They are the people who never give up on the ball ever, and sometimes just having that leader taking one more step makes everyone else take one more step.”

That determination showed in the deciding fifth set. After losing back-to-back frames, Dysart regrouped with timely serves and powerful swings that pushed Tempe on its heels. Jugans delivered several strong attacks while Martinez anchored the defense with key receptions, despite earlier struggles at the service line. 

“I tried to correct all my errors, and I felt so much better going into the fifth set,” Martinez said.

Cantrell said her message before the final set was simple; focus on controllables. “I told them, if you are passing, take one more step forward, and if you are hitting, take one more step backwards,” Cantrell said. “When things get out of control, we need to control ourselves.”

The win, Cantrell said, will help Dysart build momentum heading into the rest of region play. “We are really trying to capitalize on the feeling of winning, but not come out cocky, come out confident,” she said.

Jugans said the team is motivated to keep pushing in what will be her final regional run as a senior. “As much as I wanted to win, I just wanted to make sure my teammates’ spirits were still up,” Jugans said. “Even no matter what the outcome was, we wanted to hold our heads high.”

With the victory, Dysart improved to 2–0 in region play and will next face Desert Sunrise, a matchup Cantrell described as one of the most anticipated of the season.