Noah Podolsky is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mountain Pointe High School for AZPreps365

SCOTTSDALE – The Mountain Pointe girls volleyball team showed flashes of brilliance against Notre Dame on Thursday night, despite losing in three sets, 25-12, 25-21, 25-17. 

The Pride (4-10) were led in a consistent attack by the freshman phenom Isabella Meagher, who finished the game with seven kills. Meagher did not shy away from the big stage and boasts 110 kills on the season.

“Izzy was huge,” Pride coach John Larson said. “She’s really starting to put it together. She was really going for high hands and looking to score every single time.”

Pride opposite hitters Kaydence Livingston and Anai’ Gaines also recorded an impressive three kills a piece. After losing the first set, Livingston emphasized how critical communication was to create a more competitive game for the Saints (11-2). 

“That first set, we had a couple troubles, and I feel like we were really thrown off,” Livingston said. “After we came together as a team, and we talked and we were just like ‘let’s do it for each other,’  and we just sort of locked in, focused, really fast.” 

Kimsey Sundberg and Bauer served up two aces each in efforts to build momentum. In moments of uncertainty, Sundberg credits her teammates' unbreakable positive mentality to unlock her serving potential. 

“There’s sometimes where I get in my own head,” Sundberg said. “I just know that I have my teammates with me, and they have my back. Telling each other words of encouragement is a big part of our team.”

Notre Dame coach Alexandra Svorinic even recognized the Pride's performance, highlighting their opponent's effort to not allow them an easy victory. The Pride even went on a 5-0 run at the beginning of the second set.

“I think Mountain Pointe did a great job in putting pressure on us,”  Svorinic said. “As far as their block, they’re pretty successful in that. So it’s really good for us to be able to be challenged.”

The Saints’ Lauren Watson, a University of North Florida commit for beach volleyball, dominated with a game-high 13 kills, tallying seven kills in the first set of the match. Saints outside hitter Lucy Solorzano had 12 kills on the night.

Defensively, the Pride totaled 10 blocks on the night with three each from the “great wall”  formed by  Livingston, Bauer and Gaines. Livingston put her team first while taking on a challenging role against the taller Saints lineup.

“I do it for my team,” Livingston said. “I felt like every time we made an error, I needed to rely on myself and make sure that I put this ball away for my team.”

Chaparral (12-1) will host Mountain Pointe (4-10) on Monday at 6 p.m.

Campo Verde (11-7) will host Notre Dame (11-2) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.