Daniel Duque is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Betty Fairfax High School  for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX- After a five-set win on Tuesday at Metro Tech, the Betty Fairfax girls volleyball team took on the McClintock Chargers at home Thursday night, losing with scores of 20-25, 12-25 and 22-25.

The Stampede encountered a solid Chargers squad notable for the speed of its players, giving McClintock (3-0, 5-1) their fourth win in a row in three-set matches.

The first set opened with back-and-forth action. Betty Fairfax had a 7-4 lead before McClintock rallied with quick setting and blocking to build a  19-14 lead. A kill by senior setter Abbey Risenmey, two aces by senior middle hitter Brooklyn Scott and some attacking errors helped the Stampede cut the deficit to two, but the Chargers secured a 25-20 win.

Betty Fairfax stomped into action at the beginning of the second set scoring the first two points through Scott. Despite their lead, a combination of errors and McClintock’s momentum in the set gave the Chargers a solid 25-12 victory.

“I think the other team was faster and we just struggled keeping up with how fast they were,” Betty Fairfax coach Iman Isom said. “I think they had really good setters and we just had a hard time reading where the setter was going to set and get in our base defense.”

During the final set, McClintock had an early 6-3 lead, Scott responded with a kill and three consecutive aces to turn things around for the Stampede. The rest of the set was back and forth with the Chargers quick-setting and blocking and Scott leading Betty Fairfax by connecting with sophomore outside hitter Danaellah Muluh to put pressure on the Chargers. 

Despite the Stampede’s combined team effort, they fell short, concluding the final set with a tight 22-25 score.

“Last set, I feel like as a whole we were playing together so well,” Scott said. “We were all clicking, we all knew where each other was and we weren’t worried about picking up another girl’s ball because they are not doing it. We really trusted each other in that third set.”

Chargers coach Jacob Laikona said that despite their win, the team struggled by prolonging the sets but praised his team’s mindset.

“As a team, I think they are doing a great job, I think they are locked in and get along very well,” Laikona said. “I have an older team I have been teaching, so it is more mature than previously.”

Isom said  she will start scouting future opponents in order to read their games more in depth and prepare her team better.

“I think I need to make sure that we scout teams before we play them. That way we know how to beat them, because my girls are good,” Isom said. “I think we have a really good team this year, and I think I have to do that as a coach and bring that to them and build their confidence.”

Betty Fairfax (1-3, 3-5) will play at North High School (2-2, 3-6) on Monday at 6 p.m. 

McClintock (3-0, 5-1)  will host the Central High School Bobcats (0-2, 0-7) on Monday at 6 p.m.