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

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. - The Dysart Demons served up a statement win Wednesday night, overpowering Yuma High School 3-1 with sharp serves, steady defense, and relentless energy that never let up.

From the opening whistle, Dysart wasted no time taking control. The Demons’ serves were sharp and aggressive, forcing Yuma into errors and poor passes as Dysart rolled to a 25-10 win in the first set. 

Senior middle blocker Celeste Mercado, who finished with multiple aces and kills, credited her confidence and focus as key to the early dominance.

 “I just look for the open spots and try to aim for those,” Mercado said. “I don’t overthink it. I just take a deep breath, stay calm, and focus on keeping the play going.”

After cruising through the first set, Dysart’s rhythm briefly faltered in the second. A few miscommunications on serve receives and balls sailing out of bounds allowed Yuma to rally. The Criminals capitalized on a series of strong serves to even the score and eventually take the set 25-19.

Head coach McKayla Cantrell said that mid-match adversity came down to focus and mindset.

“We get in our heads sometimes, so I told them to get silly,” Cantrell said with a laugh. “They hate it, but I make them literally shake out their shoulders and hips just to reset. It helps them refocus and get back to the one thing we’re working on.”

That energy shift showed in the third set. Dysart jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, using Yuma’s mistakes and strong communication to build momentum. Mercado continued to shine, closing out the set with a booming spike and a decisive ace to seal a 25-14 win.

Assistant coach Tristan Cantrell said the staff’s focus on lineup rotations and mentality paid off down the stretch.
“We looked closely at what rotations worked best and made sure everyone was in the right place mentally,” Cantrell said. “That was a big game changer, lots of encouragement and building each other up.”

Senior libero Reese Garza was pivotal defensively, diving for tough digs and keeping long rallies alive. 

Her steady play helped Dysart maintain control of tempo as the match went on.

 “My motto is just go,” Garza said. “If it’s playable, get under it and go for it. When we have fun, we always play better.”

The Demons carried that same spark into the fourth set, riding the momentum to a 25-10 victory that closed out the match. Dysart’s energy was contagious, players celebrated every point, and the gym echoed with excitement as the team clinched another key win in region play.

For Coach Cantrell, the win was about rediscovering joy and trust as the season heads toward its final stretch. 

After the win, Cantrell reflected on her team’s response. “We had some emotional talks after our last loss,” she said. “It’s been a long season, but I told them to control what they can. Tonight, they did just that, and it really showed.”

The win lifts Dysart to 10 and 6 overall and 4 and 2 in the 4A Black Canyon. With momentum on their side, the Demons hope to carry this confidence into their next matchup.