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

PHOENIX — St. Mary’s outlasted Mesquite High School in a roller-coaster of a match, pulling out a 3-2 road victory. 

The five-set battle was a true test of both teams’ resilience, athleticism and ability to perform under pressure.

After falling to the Wildcats at home earlier in the season, the Knights entered Tuesday's game with vengeance. Their game plan was simple:

“We wanted to reciprocate that energy that they gave to us in our own home gym and bring it back and try to beat them,” senior outside hitter Mylee McDowell said. 

With the momentum switching nearly every point, the game became a showdown of energy and endurance more than skill. 

“It was really our energy. It wasn't even a skill. It was definitely the energy,” head coach September Lopez said when discussing the key to the team's success.

The Knights won the first set but fell short in the next two, forcing them to regroup and refocus. Despite the setback, they leaned on trust and teamwork to stay alive. 

“The mindset was for us to just bet on ourselves and trust that we had all the skills we needed to win this game,” Lopez said.

This message had an impact. St. Mary’s rallied with a strong net front presence from senior opposite hitter Emily Madigan and huge hits from McDowell to even the match 2-2. 

The competitive nature of the game spread beyond the court lines, as both teams benches and fans competed with the volume and quantity of their cheers. 

“Dude, the energy has never been better in our life, like, ever at all,” Madigan said.

Madigan added the team’s energy came from more than just noise. It was the way they supported and encouraged each other throughout the match that ultimately led them to victory.

“Positive communication really helps us stay optimistic,” Madigan said. 

The Knights paired that optimism with a do-or-die attitude in the fifth set.  The back-and-fourth scoring and intense rallies had fans on the edge of their seats for the final, decisive plays of the night.  

It was definitely a roller coaster,” McDowell said. “I think the outcome is just phenomenal.”

As the Knights pulled ahead late, Lopez said her team fully embraced its season identity. 

“We had to come in and put on our road warrior faces,” Lopez said. “We're the road warriors now.”

This win not only marked redemption for the earlier loss to Mesquite, but also serves as a testimony to how much the team has grown throughout the season. 

“We've seen each other play from the start of this season until now, and we know that we can be better than any team,” McDowell said. “It's not impossible for us to be better.”

The Knights sealed the deal in the fifth set, claiming a hard-fought, and well deserved victory over the Wildcats. The win energized the team and fans alike, a perfect moment to embrace their slogan. 

“It's our comeback season and we just came back," McDowell said. “DTB!”

DTB stands for “Drop That Banner,” a mantra the team has played by all season long and will continue to use to fuel their fire.