Jayla Jeske is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover St. Mary's High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX — The St. Mary’s Knights continue to dominate on the road with a blend of culture, chemistry and camaraderie.

The Knights’ unbeaten road streak has been fueled as much by positivity as by performance. Chants and cheers led by senior players, along with the consistent sideline support from head coach September Lopez, have been the driving forces behind the team's success on the road. 

With their impressive record, it's clear the Knights’ upbeat attitude is infectious and essential to their continued dominance in unfriendly territory.

“I would say we're very boisterous,” senior opposite hitter Emily Madigan said. “We're fun and energetic in the locker room, and we keep the energy up at game time.” 

The positive vibes start long before the first serve. From the locker room to warmups, the team's energy sets the tone for the matchup ahead.  

“In the locker room, we say a decade of the rosary, and then we go out and we try to keep the energy up during warm ups,” Madigan said. “We're all talking to each other the entire time, getting kills, and working on our passing and serving.” 

During the game, there is no dip in positive energy. The Knights exchange cheers, chants and high-fives after every point. 

“When everybody cheers for you, you get so motivated and you're like, ‘I want to do that again’," said senior defensive specialist AnnaClare Atkinson.

Humble, the players are energized by seeing their teammates succeed. 

“As a setter, when I set my hitters, seeing them get that kill and seeing their faces light up, it motivates me to keep going,” said senior Layla Santa Cruz De La Cruz. “That momentum helps me stay locked in.”

But it's not just the support from teammates that contributes to the encouragement onto the court, coach Lopez’s affirmations have carried this team through every set.

“Our coach has really helped us with her wise words,” senior outside hitter Mylee McDowell said. “When we're down sometimes, we'll go back to the locker room after the game and then she really gets into our soul and boosts us up. She really believes in us, has confidence in us, and it just really helps our game to move forward.”

Still, their journey hasn't been without setbacks. Even with their dominance on the road, the Knights have struggled to find the same rhythm at home.

“We have actually been on the road for the last few seasons because we’ve been doing gym reconstruction so we haven't found our vibe at home yet,” said coach Lopez. “Our home crowd has not seen us play at our fullest potential.”

Coach Lopez acknowledges her team is most comfortable playing on the road and uses that to their advantage. 

“We live and die by our cheers and our motivation and our energy. If we're not energized and communicating in a game, we're probably not going to win that game,” said Lopez.

Despite the challenges the Knights have faced at home, they plan to stay hot on the road and remain eager to chase that banner title. 

As they approach the closing half of the season, the Knights rally around a simple phrase that fuels the remainder of their time together.  

“DTB is our motto, which means ‘drop that banner’,” McDowell said.